Fast-bowler Umar Gul and the left-arm attack of Abdur Rehman and Wahab Riaz ripped through the New Zealand batting line-up as the tourists sealed a 10-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Rehman, named man of the match, claimed three for 24, Riaz three for 38 while Gul finished with three wickets as well.
“We didn’t feel like we were going to win on the third day because the wicket was a bit flat and slow,” said Misbah. “It wasn’t easy to get batsmen out here, but I think the bowlers did a fantastic job and they won the match for us.”
The captain, who made 62 in his only innings, said the bowlers were just aiming to limit scoring opportunities. “Batsmen get frustrated when they get stuck there and have to face a lot of deliveries without scoring many runs.
“So that was the key, to bowl in the right areas.”
The win was a much-needed boost for Pakistan weakened without their three key players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who are at the centre of a spot-fixing inquiry which has dogged the nation’s cricket since last year.
Vettori mourns collapse
While Misbah was ecstatic, his opposite number Daniel Vettori rued the batting collapse that sealed his side’s fate. New Zealand lost their top six batsmen for 25 runs as left-arm spinner Rehman and fast-bowler Riaz’s spells wreaked havoc in the hosts’ camp.
“I think we fought hard in the morning to give ourselves a chance to come back,” said Vettori, after New Zealand bowled Pakistan out for 367 in their first innings. “But then to let it slip leaves a really sour taste.”
Vettori said poor decision making was also a cause for the humiliating defeat. “You need to make good decisions in Test cricket. There were four or five, run outs, rash shots, bad decision-making and it all adds up to being bowled out for 110.”
Day’s play
Pakistan, who resumed the day at 235 for four in their first innings, were all out midway through the second session earning a 92-run lead.
By the time New Zealand passed that target they were already eight wickets down, with most dismissals the result of poor decision-making by the batsmen.
At one stage New Zealand lost four wickets for one run, collapsing from two for 60 to four for 61, after a baffling array of aggressive shot-making at a time when patience was required.
New Zealand’s second-innings lasted less than 39 overs as they were bowled out for 110 leaving Pakistan a mere 19 runs to win, a target they achieved in 22 balls.
All the partisan crowd could find to cheer about was the batting of tailender Chris Martin, whose average of 2.47 is one of the worst in Tests, but he managed to make seven and reach his 100th run in his 60th match.
Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq
“For the last five, six years we have not won a Test
series, and we want to make it good for us and win this Test series. Therefore, I think everybody is focused on this.”
NZ captain Daniel Vettori
“It was just a dismal batting performance. Just poor decision making when you need that stability and need guys to stand up and be counted and we didn’t get that today.”
With additional input from AFP
Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2011.
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