‘Babu Bhaiya hum bach gaaye’ – Huge let off for Pakistan as bad light come to their rescue against New Zealand in Karachi
Pakistan and New Zealand squared off against each other at Karachi for one final time in the second Test. The Kiwis set the tone in the first innings. They were led by a majestic hundred from Devon Conway who made 122 off 191 balls with 16 fours and 1 six.
There were timely contributions from Tom Latham who scored 71 off 100 with nine fours. Tom Blundell hit a vital 51 off 108 with six fours. The Pakistan bowlers did well to restrict New Zealand to 345-9. But the Kiwis stormed back with a last wicket partnership of 103 with Matt Henry who made 68 off 81 with eight fours and two sixes. Ajaz Patel made a handy 35 off 78 with four fours.
This took New Zealand to 449-10. Pakistan then batted very well to end up on 408-10. Saud Shakeel, Imam-ul- Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed led the way with 125, 83 and 78 respectively. Ish Sodhi and Ajaz picked up three wickets each with the ball.
New Zealand had a 41-run lead. They came out with a mission to score quickly and did exactly that. Tom Latham hit 62 off 103 balls with 11 fours. Tom Blundell made 74 off 135 with 11 fours. Michael Bracewell hit a well-crafted 74 not out with seven fours and one six.
New Zealand set Pakistan a target of 318 to win. The Men in Green did not have the best of starts as they were 0-2 at the end of Day 4. On Day 5, the batters could not get going and found themselves in a big hole at 80-5. Babar Azam also was dismissed cheaply.
It came down to Sarfaraz Ahmed and Saud Shakeel who stitched a wonderful partnership. Sarfaraz smashed a 118 off 176 balls with nine fours and one six. Shakeel made a resolute 32 off 146 balls with four fours and provided good support to Sarfaraz. Then Agha Salman also made a handy 30 off 40 balls with four fours.
Then New Zealand got back into the game with the wickets of Salman, Sarfaraz and Hasan Ali. Just as it looked down and out for Pakistan Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed hit 15 off 11 with two fours and one six. When Pakistan needed 15 runs to win Aleem Dar called the game off due to bad light.
Great game, well done Sarfaraz Ahmed 👏 @SarfarazA_54 #PakvsNZ
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) January 6, 2023
Babar to #SarfarazAhmed #PAKvNZ #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/Cob7quUOti
— Ana de Armas stan (@abhithecomic) January 6, 2023
Nail bitter ended as a Draw #PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/BEqUPDw1Nl
— നരിസി_അഖില 1/22❤️ (@YaggonuNarsi) January 6, 2023
https://twitter.com/shoebzama83/status/1611346019379474433?s=20&t=ayt76yy0Pyzd6vtNxAthjw
Oh Alhamdullilah Alhamdullilah draw ho gaya 😭😭😭😭😭
Haar say bach gaye 😭😭😭😭#PakvsNZ— Ayesha Siddiqua🤍✨ (@asiddiqua7) January 6, 2023
Sad end to an exciting game, Umpires should 've shown some common sense & got those 3 overs. Pak could very well have won it too. But shows what ENG & #BazBall did to create results out of those 3 games. #PAKvsNZ
— Sushant (@RedDevilsSupptr) January 6, 2023
https://twitter.com/HHH34511726/status/1611346123121360898?s=20&t=ayt76yy0Pyzd6vtNxAthjw
https://twitter.com/KiranSuniya/status/1611346139046887426?s=20&t=ayt76yy0Pyzd6vtNxAthjw
Typical Pakistan! Should've won it. #PAKvsNZ
— mirani irfan (@miranirfan) January 6, 2023
https://twitter.com/A7pha_/status/1611346178985332736?s=20&t=ayt76yy0Pyzd6vtNxAthjw
Pakistan ka sara bhoj ek bar phir Karachi k kandhoon par
Well played Sarfraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel & Abrar Ahmed!#PAKvNZ #PAKvsNZ #NZvPAK #NZvsPAK #NZ #PAK #Pakistan #NewZealand #Karachi #KarachiTest #NationalBankCricketArena #NSK
— Rohail Ramzan Ali | 🇵🇰 🇦🇪 (@RohailRamzanAli) January 6, 2023
