Kiwis thwarted: Hosts preserve lead as nail-biter ends in a draw

Pakistan ended day five at 196-5 at stumps to take a 1-0 lead into the third match


Our Correspondent November 21, 2014

KARACHI: A fluent century from New Zealand’s Ross Taylor stopped Pakistan’s three-match winning streak as both teams had to settle for a draw in the second Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Pakistan preserved their 1-0 lead in the three-match series but were made to work hard by the Kiwis, which will give them impetus going into the third Test beginning from November 26 in Sharjah.

Misbahul Haq’s men were hopeful of pulling off a victory when play resumed with New Zealand 166-6.

An early opportunity was missed as Craig was dropped in the fourth over of the day when Taufiq Umar spilled a regulation catch in the slips off Rahat Ali. The partnership added another 44 runs before finally being broken.

Craig, who scored 34 off 53, was dismissed when trying to hit Yasir Shah over long-on and was caught in the deep.

Yasir completed his five-wicket haul when Ross Taylor was stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed two balls later. Taylor had made a commanding 133-ball 104 to equal John Wright’s tally of 12 Test tons.

Tim Southee played a 20-run cameo, hitting Zulfiqar Babar for three consecutive sixes before being caught by Azhar Ali for Babar’s fourth, and it brought the declaration with New Zealand on 250-9.

Chasing a tricky target of 261, Pakistan lost opener Taufiq Umar on just four early on.

Pakistan opted against changing their batting order and Azhar Ali came out at number three to join hands with Shan Masood, but failed to up the run-rate before lunch.

Shan did open up his arms after the hour-long break, hitting two cracking sixes. Azhar, on the other hand, kept blocking and paid the price as he was dismissed by Craig after scoring 24 off 74. Shan and Misbah fell in quick succession to leave Pakistan in trouble at 75-4.

But Younus Khan steadied the innings with Asad Shafiq, producing a 74-run stand. Younus was undone by a corker from Craig as he consumed 84 balls for his 44-run innings.

Pakistan ended on 196-5 in 67 overs, with Asad unbeaten on 41 and Sarfraz on 24.

Skipper Misbah later admitted that the missed chances of the first innings made the difference in the match. “We missed few chances in first innings which made a big difference in the whole game because we allowed New Zealand to score more than 400,” said Misbah.

“Today we wanted to chase down the score but three quick wickets put us on back foot. The idea was to score three runs per over and make 150 in 50 overs and from there on we could’ve gone for it. We were thinking of promoting Sarfraz but those quick wickets changed our plan.”

The skipper added that Sarfraz could become a key fixture in the side for Pakistan in the future but still needs to work hard on his glovework, while also asking the rest of the team to raise their level of fielding as well.

 

 

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COMMENTS (1)

Aadmi | 9 years ago | Reply

It's all good you can't win all the time! Unless, you play for India then you are expected to win every game otherwise they freakin burn your house down!

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