Pakistan 133 and 171 (Sohail 40, Azhar 31, Azam 29, Wagner 3-34, Boult 3-37) lead New Zealand 200 (Raval 55, Nicholls 30, Rahat 4-62, Amir 3-43, Sohail 3-78) by 104 runs
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Neil Wagner, New Zealand’s second-fastest to 100 Test wickets after Richard Hadlee, took three wickets © Getty Images
In 181 innings across recognised cricket, Sohail Khan’s best effort with the bat fetched him 56. And so when New Zealand dismissed Sarfraz Ahmed late on day three to an inswinging yorker from Trent Boult, they may have entertained hopes of picking up the remaining three wickets early on Sunday and complete a modest chase. But Sohail wasn’t in the mood for a meek surrender.
Short balls were the flavor for the first few overs. He diligently ducked under deliveries that were over him, took on those that were anywhere near the body, and kept picking away runs at every available opportunity. If there was width, he slashed at them. If it was full and slanting away, he drove. So confident he was of the ploy to get as many runs as possible that Asad Shafiq, the more recognised batsman, didn’t hesitate to give him strike. His cameo 40 in a 53-run stand for the eight-wicket helped Pakistan, resuming on 129 for 7, finish their second innings on 171, thereby setting New Zealand a target of 105 to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
In sticking to his ploy of going after anything short, Sohail perhaps played one shot too many and was caught by Colin de Grandhomme at backward square leg in the seventh over for 40 after Pakistan had picked 29. The celebration when he fell was that of relief, for Kane Williamson, mindful of a tricky chase and willing to save every run – he employed deep square leg and deep point straightaway – ran to his bowler to give him a high five, perhaps to acknowledge the importance of the wicket at that stage.
The session wasn’t without drama though. Shafiq survived a caught behind appeal on 8 while attempting an expansive drive off Wagner. While the appeal wasn’t spontaneous, there was a woody sound which New Zealand couldn’t refer as they had lost both their reviews on the third day. After Sohail’s dismissal, Shafiq chanced himself in search of some runs, but wasn’t entirely successful at connecting bat to ball. He was out courtesy some on-field brilliance when Jeet Raval, running in from deep square fived full-length forward to catch the ball in front of his face.
Rahat Ali was the last man to be dismissed when he tamely lobbed a catch to short leg to complete the innings. Neil Wagner, who became the second-fastest New Zealander to 100 Test wickets on Saturday, finished with 3 for 34, while Southee and Boult also took three apiece.
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo