Pakistan vs New Zealand – 1st Test – Day 5 – Pakistan 1st Innings 438 all out in 130.5 overs (Babar 161, Salman 103, Sarfaraz 86, Southee 3/69, Bracewell 2/72). New Zealand 1st innings 612 for 9 declared in 194.5 overs (Latham 113, Conway 92, Williamson 200*, Sodhi 65, Abrar 5/205, Nauman 3/185). Pakistan 2nd innings 311 for 8 declared in 103.5 overs (Imam 96, Sarfaraz 53, Shakeel 55*, Sodhi 6/86) drew v/s New Zealand 2nd innings 61 for 1 in 7.3 overs (Latham 35*, Abrar 1/23)

Someone who knows nothing about cricket will find it fascinating that after playing a single game over five days there was no winner. But that’s the beauty of cricket – the game that we all love.

Was it the fact that he needed some overs under his belt or was it the confidence from the runs he got in the first innings but Ish Sodhi looked like a different bowler in Pakistan’s second innings. The lines and lengths were better. He was bowling at the right speed required on the Karachi surface and he was getting appreciable turn from the day five wicket. The result was that Sodhi picked up his first five wicket haul in test cricket in his 18^th test.

After Sodhi’s efforts with the ball on day one his critics including me were questioning his place in the team but he has answered all of us in the best possible manner i.e. by letting his bat and ball do all the talking.

After the lunch interval when Sodhi picked up three wickets in quick succession Pakistan were effectively 32 for 7 and the writing was on the wall. Pakistan needed a hero and they found two in the form of Saud Shakeel (55 not out) and Mohammed Wasim (43) who soaked in the pressure and took Pakistan to a lead of 137 where they felt comfortable enough to declare their innings.

The Black Caps came out all guns blazing trying to chase down 138 in 15 overs but the fading light was never going to hold on for long enough and the umpires decided to stop the game halfway through the 8^th over with New Zealand on 61 for 1. Even though the game ended in a draw the Black Caps were definitely the better side and will take the psychological advantage going into the next game.

Both sides had a number of positives. For Pakistan the form of Babar Azam, Salman Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Imam-ul-Haq with the bat and the efforts of Abrar Ahmed and Nauman Ali with the ball were noteworthy.

For the Black Caps the form of Tom Latham, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson with the bat along with Ish Sodhi’s all-round performance were the highlights of the test. The second test starts in Karachi on January 2 and both sides will be keen to kick off the new year with a test match and series victory.