Last Update: December 29, 2022, 20:33 IST
Ish Sodhi of New Zealand, center with glasses, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Shan Masood of Pakistan during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match (AP Image)
Trailing by 174 runs after the first innings, Pakistan ended the fourth day on a precarious 77–2, with Imam-ul-Haq 45 and nightwatchman Nauman Ali four.
Pakistan will have to bat on the last day to avoid defeat in the first Test as New Zealand took the lead with Kane Williamson’s brilliant undefeated double century in Karachi on Thursday.
Trailing by 174 runs after the first innings, Pakistan ended the fourth day on a precarious 77–2, with Imam-ul-Haq 45 and nightwatchman Nauman Ali four.
Pakistan have lost their last four Tests – including a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of England for the first time – and are now 97 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.
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It shouldn’t normally be a difficult task for the home team to salvage a draw on a National Stadium pitch that hasn’t turned sharply yet, but their propensity for middle-order collapse has left New Zealand smelling a win lately.
Opener Abdullah Shafiq was the first wicket to fall as he played a damaging lofted shot to off-spinner Michael Bracewell and was caught at mid-on for 17 runs.
Shan Masood was then lbw for 10 off Ish Sodhi but Haq and Nauman finished the day’s play.
Earlier, an unbeaten double century from Williamson enabled the visitors to declare their first innings on 612-9 – a good 174-run lead over Pakistan’s 438.
Williamson reached 200 with an off-spinner Abrar Ahmed, batting for ten hours and hitting 21 fours and a six in an innings in which he overturned two leg before decisions of 13 and 116.
He also avoided two stumpings off spinner Nouman on scores of 15 and 21.
Resuming on 440-6, Williamson and Sodhi defied Pakistan’s bowling in the first session as the pair put on a total of 595 before breaking the seventh-wicket partnership.
Sodhi was caught by Ahmed for 65 to better his previous best against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2018.
– milestone –
Tim Southee and Neil Wagner were dismissed without scoring as New Zealand lost three wickets in the space of two runs, but last man Ajaz Patel helped Williamson reach the milestone.
“It’s good to be part of a number of partnerships that have given us a competitive total and put us in a reasonable position,” Williamson said.
But he still thought it would be difficult to force a win.
“We know there is going to be as much hard work and patience going into tomorrow as we can with surface assistance.”
Pakistan spinner Ahmed lamented the lack of help from the pitch.
He said, ‘Whether you are a mystery spinner or whatever, you need at least some support from the pitch but when you are not getting any help then it is difficult to get wickets.
However, he praised Williamson.
“I have bowled against (Joe) Root but the way Williamson has batted shows how good he is,” said Ahmed, who dismissed England’s Root in his first Test in Multan.
“Williamson is exceptional and plays your good balls with ease.”
Ahmed ended with 5-205 – his second five-wicket haul – while Nauman Ali took 3-185.
New Zealand is playing its first Test series in Pakistan in 20 years.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)