Karachi: The first Test match of the two-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand was drawn due to low light.
The fifth day
On the fifth day of the first test match of the series at the National Stadium Karachi, Pakistan declared 311 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the second innings of the first test of the series against New Zealand, while the Kiwis had set a target of 138 runs in 15 overs.
Chasing the target, New Zealand played aggressively but fell short of the target and managed to score just 85 runs before the match was abandoned due to bad weather.
Earlier, the national team had lost two early wickets, but Sarfraz Ahmed and Imamul Haq established a partnership of 81 runs to stabilize the team’s position. Opener Abdullah Shafiq 17, Shan Masood 10 and Nouman Ali 4 and captain Babar Azam 14, Sarfraz Ahmed 53, Agha Salman 6, Muhammad Wasim Jr. 43 runs were out.
Young batsman Saud Shakeel scored 55 while Mir Hamza was not out by scoring 3 runs, Ash Sodhi scored 6 and Mitchell Presol dismissed 2 players on behalf of New Zealand.
The fourth day
On the fourth day of the first Test match, New Zealand declared the first innings against Pakistan by scoring 612 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.
New Zealand started the innings on the fourth day with 440 runs at the loss of 6 wickets, Kane Williamson and Ash Sodhi formed a partnership of 159 runs and got a lead of 174 runs over Pakistan. Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten 200 runs while Ash Sodhi scored 65 runs and lost the wicket. Among the other players, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner fell victim to the Pakistani bowlers for zero runs.
On behalf of Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed got 5, Noman Ali got 3 while Muhammad Wasim Jr. dismissed one player.
The third day
On the third day, Kiwi openers Dion Conway and Tom Latham broke the 57-year old Kiwi record of opening partnership in Pakistan and put on a partnership of 183 runs. Tom Latham 113, Conway 92, Henry Nicholls 22, Daryl Mitchell 42, Tom Blundell 47, Mitchell Bracewell 5 were out.
Earlier, Pakistan team was dismissed after scoring 438 runs in the first innings.
Second day
The opening batsmen of the visiting team got off to a great start. Tom Latham scored 78 and Dion Conway scored 82. On behalf of the national team, fast and spin bowlers tried to take wickets but could not get success.
Earlier, Pakistan started the rest of the innings on 317 for five but skipper Babar Azam was dismissed by Tim Southee on the fourth ball of the first over on the second day. He played an innings of 161 runs.
After the dismissal of Babar Azam, Nouman Ali formed a partnership of 54 runs with Agha Salman. However, after the fall of Nouman Ali’s wicket, no player could keep up the wicket.
Agha Salman scored his first career century and was dismissed for 103 runs.
Kiwi captain Tim Southee took three wickets while Ash Sodhi, Ijaz Patel and Michael Bracewell dismissed two each. Fast bowler Neil Wagner could take only one wicket.
First day
The national team won the toss and opened the batting on the first day of the Test, then its three wickets fell on the score of 48, while the fourth wicket fell on 110 runs, after which captain Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed supported the team.
196 runs were scored in the fifth wicket partnership between the two, Sarfraz Ahmed was dismissed for 86 runs in the last overs of the game. Earlier, opener Abdullah Shafique returned to the pavilion with 7 runs, Shaan Masood 3 runs, Imamul Haq 24 runs and Saud Shakeel 22 runs.
In the national team, wicketkeeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed and fast bowler Mir Hamza have returned to the team, while batsman Imamul Haq has also been included in the team.
Sarfraz Ahmed played a Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg almost 4 years ago in 2019 as captain. Sarfaraz Ahmed is playing his match at home ground. Fast bowler Mir Hamza last played a Test match in 2018.
