Bad Light forces a draw in the First Test Match as Pakistan declare to make things interesting |Pakistan vs New Zealand | 1st Test Match – Match Report

Match: Pakistan vs New Zealand | First Test Match 2022

Dates: 26^th December 2022 – 30^th December 2022

Venue: National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi (formerly known as National Stadium Karachi)

Teams – Playing XIs:

Pakistan’s Playing XI – 1st Test Match – Pakistan vs New Zealand 2022:

1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Shan Masood, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Agha Salman, 8 Nauman Ali, 9 Mohammad Wasim, 10 Mir Hamza, 11 Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand’s Playing XI – 1st Test Match – Pakistan vs New Zealand 2022:

1 Tom Latham, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Tim Southee (capt), 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Ajaz Patel

Toss:

Pakistan’s Captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first. His decision proved fruitful as his batters scored 438 runs in the first innings.

Day 5|   1st Test Match – Pakistan vs New Zealand 2022:

When teams went out of the ground after Day 4, there was no chance of a Pakistan victory as they still faced a massive deficit, with two innings to go in the test match. It was obvious that the game was going to head towards a draw. However, a surprise declaration from the Pakistan Captain did make things interesting.

Pakistan Crumbles – As it happens so often | 1st Test Match – Pakistan vs New Zealand 2022:

Imam ul Haq and the nightwatchman Nauman Ali were at the crease when play resumed on day 5. Imam was not out on 45 while Nauman had managed only 4 runs. The plan was to bat out the rest of the overs and secure a draw.

In all the test matches that we saw last year in Pakistan, one common feature was a Pakistan collapse. Pakistan would play fine till one small session of play where they would let the game get away from themselves and beyond their reach with a typical batting collapse.

Pakistan had a terrible start to the day as Nauman Ali got out for 4. This was followed by the huge wicket of Babar Azam. Ish Sodhi had him trapped in front of the stumps. Pakistan were 4 down for 100 with more than 75 overs left in the day’s play.

However, a good partnership of 85 runs between Sarfaraz Ahmed and Imam UL Haq rescued Pakistan. Sarfaraz Ahmed made 53 and was dismissed by Sodhi as he nicked one to the keeper. The centurion from the first innings, Salman Ali Agha joined Imam ul Haq at the crease.

However, he was dismissed by Sodhi too as he got bowled for only 6 runs. Two overs later, Imam ul Haq danced down the wicket to get to his hundred but was stumped smartly by Tom Blundell.

These quick wickets reduced Pakistan to 206/7 with enough time remaining in the match. Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim were at the crease as Pakistan hoped to draw the game. There wasn’t much hope left as only Shakeel could bat. However, Wasim showed true grit and delivered a lower order punch with his 57-ball 43 to rescue the boat.

Pakistan were 311/8, with Saud Shakeel batting on 55. It looked like a draw was inevitable as only 15 overs were remaining in the match. Pakistan declared their innings at 311/8 to set New Zealand a target of 138 to win in 15 overs.

New Zealand looked to chase the target and made 61/1 in their 7 overs. However, Bad light forced the end of the test match.

The second test match between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played between 2–6 January, 2023.

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