Australian legend praising Kiwis’ clever move as they beat Pakistan

BY markoh January 6, 2023

Pakistan was set a challenging 319-point goal by New Zealand to win the second Test match in Karachi, but they got off to a disastrous start on Thursday, losing two wickets without scoring.

 

Before Ish Sodhi bowled nightwatchman Mir Hamza in the final over of the fourth day, captain Tim Southee had already dismissed Pakistan’s opener Abdullah Shafique with the first ball of the team’s second innings.

 

The home team needed 319 runs to win, or with eight wickets in hand to force a draw, and Imam-ul-Haq was at the crease without scoring at the time of the game’s conclusion.

 

The Kiwis had a typical field setup, with everyone gathered close to the wicket when Sodhi took out Hamza.

 

Kerry O’Keeffe, a fielding setup enthusiast for Fox Cricket, was in awe of it and wishes for more instances of it in the future.

 

As a spinner, O’Keeffe said, “It warmed the cockles of my heart.”.

 

“I observe leg spinners bowling short form without a slip and attempting to get an edge off a right-hander.

 

“Test cricket is when everyone surrounds the batter. Instead of bowling four tight overs, that is where a wrist spinner excels.

 

Ish Sodhi and the captain (Tim Southee) deserve extra credit for preparing the field. I hope to see more of it in the next ten years.

 

“Long live Test cricket!”.

 

After losing 1-0 to Australia and 3-0 to England earlier this year, they would suffer their third home series loss of the season if they lost.

 

No team has ever had to chase down more than 314, the home team against Australia in Karachi in 1994, to win a Test in Pakistan.

 

Ten minutes before the end of their second innings, New Zealand declared on 277-5, with Tom Blundell scoring 74 and Michael Bracewell hitting a career-high 74 not out.

 

With a 127-run fifth wicket stand, the two players changed the course of the game.

 

When Pakistan had New Zealand reeling at 128-4 from 76-1 at lunch after taking out Kane Williamson (41), Tom Latham (62), and Henry Nicholls (five), they knew they had the game in hand.

 

However, Blundell chastised the home team with 7 boundaries and a 6 before holing out off-spinner Abrar Ahmed at 21 when Abrar Ahmed, a spinner, dropped him after wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed.

 

Sarfaraz also dropped Bracewell off Salman on 59, even though his previous best of 49 came against England earlier this year.

 

New Zealand lost three wickets in a span of 50 balls and 14 runs in the post-lunch session.

 

Abrar Ahmed successfully caught Latham after Naseem Shah’s fast bowler mishandled a flick at short mid-wicket.

 

The next over saw Ahmed trap Williamson leg-before with the total still 114.

 

Soon after, Nicholls was caught by Hasan Ali as New Zealand lost three wickets for 14 runs off of 50 balls.

 

Having three of their decisions overturned, field umpires Alex Wharf and Aleem Dar had a terrible day.

 

Mir Hamza bowled Conway with his first delivery in the second over of their innings, shocking New Zealand.

 

In his 12-game Test career, it was Conway’s first loss without a goal.

 

When Williamson was on seven and nine, Pakistan wasted two leg-before referrals on him, and Latham overturned a decision over him on 36 — all off Ahmed.

 

Pakistan was dismissed for 408, having added one run to their overnight total, at the start of the day in response to New Zealand’s 449 first-innings score.

 

On the other end, centurion Saud Shakeel was left stranded after spinner Ish Sodhi trapped the last man, Ahmed’s leg, for nothing.

 

After 493 arduous minutes at the crease and 17 boundaries in his first century, Shakeel was unbeaten on 125.

 

Ajaz Patel, a spinner, finished with 3-88, and Sodhi, 3-95.

 

A draw resulted in the first of the two games in the series, which was played in Karachi.

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