Against all the odds and the best of logic, New Zealand’s bowlers defended 176 on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi to take a 1-0 series lead.
Needing 139 runs with all 10 wickets in hand at the start of day four, Pakistan was superbly placed to take the win and an early series lead over New Zealand.
Ajaz Patel trapped Imam-ul-Haq leg before for 27 (33 balls) and was soon followed by Mohammad Hafeez (10 off 44) and Haris Sohail (4 off 3).
Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq (45 off 81) shared an 82-run stand for the fourth wicket before Shafiq was caught by BJ Watling off Neil Wagner with the score on 130. Babar Azam was then run out for 13 off 21 balls to leave Pakistan feeling decidedly nervous on 147-5.
From that point on New Zealand held the upper hand as Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 24 runs to by four runs to record their lowest defeat, while for New Zealand it was their smallest winning margin.
The tension of the closing half hour was exacerbated by Ali repeatedly turning down singles as he feared for the wickets of his lower-order teammates, along with a string of umpiring reviews that had players (and the handful of spectactors at the ground) on edge.
Ali was the last man out, trapped leg before by Patel after a brave 65 off 136 balls (5×4) as he did his best to shepherd the runless tail to victory – the last four batters all failed to score, although Mohammad Abbas’ score of nought was not out.
Patel took 5-59 in the second innings on his Test debut to add to his first innings 2-64 to complete a memorable debut and deservedly take home the Player of the Match honours. Patel was well supported by Wagner (2-27) and Ish Sodhi (2-37) as the Black Caps squeezed home for one of their most famous Test victories.
The second Test starts on Friday 24 November.
Photo: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images
