Dubai: Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar produced a four-wicket spell but could not stop New Zealand from posting a morale-boosting first innings total of 403 in their first innings on the second day of the second Test at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.
For New Zealand, who lost the first Test in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs — scoring only 493 runs from both the innings — it is indeed a creditable show but whether they will be able to press for victory by dismissing Pakistan cheaply in both the innings to equal the series needs to be seen.
In the 19 overs left for the day, Pakistan lost both their new openers Shan Masoud and Taufeeq Umar. Masoud was bowled off a beauty of a delivery from leg spinner Ish Sodhi for 13 and Umar got stumped off Mark Craig’s off spin for 16. Trailing by 369 runs, Younis Khan and Azhar Ali are at the wicket.
Babar followed up his two five wicket spell against Australia at Dubai and Abu Dhabi last month with 4 for 137 on a wicket that yielded him no help. From the start of the second day it was an intense battle by the two teams to gain an upper hand.
New Zealand in pursuit of the 400-run mark did everything possible to reach there with all their batsmen, especially those lower down the order, making sure they achieve their target.
Irresponsible shot
Pakistan bowlers lit up hopes of bowling out New Zealand quickly when Ehsan Adil dismissed Corey Anderson off the fourth ball of the second over. Anderson played a very irresponsible shot scooping the ball into the hands of Azhar Ali in the covers.
Buoyed by the early wicket, Rahat Ali picked the prize wicket of Tom Latham. Going for a drive without positioning himself correctly, Latham at his overnight score of 137 edged to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmad. It was an apt reward for Rahat, who bowled a good line and length throughout the innings.
Jimmy Neesham hit boundaries off Ehsan to keep the score board moving.
Bradley Watling and Neesham added another 33 runs when leg spinner Yasir Shah provided the breakthrough. Neesham, going for an on drive played into the hands of Misbah Ul Haq at mid-wicket for 17. Shah would have got the wickets of Mark Craig on 9 had Rahat not dropped an easy catch at mid-wicket. Craig and Watling settled down quickly refusing to play any aggressive shots. It took 51 balls for the pair to score their first boundary of the partnership.
Batting coach Craig McMillan’s plan of wanting a total of around 430 runs brightened when the seventh wicket partnership swelled to huge proportions. As regular bowlers could not get the breakthrough, they introduced leg break bowler Azhar Ali and he ended the partnership in his third over. Watling cut Azhar straight to substitute Haris Sohail at backward point for 39. It ended the 68 runs partnership which lasted 31.1 overs.
Craig, going for a pull off Zulfiqar Babar missed the shot and got trapped leg before for 43. Tim Southee refused to be tied down by the spinners and stepped out and hit Babar for a six over long on. At tea, New Zealand were 369 for 8 with Pakistan trying hard to end their innings.
Ish Sodhi, who in both the innings in Abu Dhabi had refused to give his wicket easily, batted the same way. Southee, fresh from his knock of 63 in Abu Dhabi picked the gaps too beautifully. At his score on 17, Southee went for an unwarranted slog shot off Babar and got bowled. He put on 39 runs for the ninth wicket with Sodhi. Thirteen more runs were still needed to reach the 400 run mark. Sodhi lifted Babar for a straight six to help his team reach the mark. Last man Boult too attempted a lofted shot but only to be caught by Rahat Ali at long on off Babar.
