ZCZC
BSP-14
CRICKET-PAK-NZL LEAD
N.Zealand win first away Test series over Pakistan in 49 years
ABU DHABI, Dec 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Debutant Will Somerville grabbed three
key wickets to guide New Zealand to their first away series win over Pakistan
in 49 years with a crushing 123-run win in the third and final Test on
Friday.
The off-spinner took 3-52 and was aided by fellow spinner Ajaz Patel’s 3-
42 as Pakistan came up well short after being set a daunting 280-run target
in 79 overs.
They crumbled to 156 in 56.1 overs on a weary pitch at Sheikh Zayed
Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The victory gave New Zealand a 2-1 series win after they had taken the
first Test by a narrow four-run margin at the same venue. Pakistan bounced
back with an innings and 16-run win in the second Test in Dubai.
New Zealand’s last away series win against Pakistan was a 1-0 victory in
matches played in Pakistan in 1969.
It was the Black Caps’ fifth Test series win in their last six played
since November 2016. They beat Pakistan, Bangladesh, the West Indies and
England — all at home — with the single loss came against South Africa.
Somerville, who took 4-75 in the first innings to finish with seven
wickets in the match, broke a stubborn 43-run sixth-wicket stand between top
scorer Babar Azam (51) and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, who made 28.
Patel ended Azam’s 114-ball resistance before getting the last wicket when
he dismissed Hasan Ali for four, sparking celebrations among the New Zealand
players.
Pakistan were again let down by sloppy batting.
They were off to a disastrous start when Mohammad Hafeez, in his last
innings before he retires from Test cricket, was bowled by fast bowler Tim
Southee for eight.
– Match-turning innings –
Medium pacer Colin de Grandhomme had first-innings centurion Azhar Ali
caught behind for five before Somerville’s double strike pushed Pakistan to
55-5 at lunch.
Somerville had Haris Sohail caught off a tentative push in the slip with
his third ball of the first over for nine and next ball had first innings
centurion Asad Shafiq caught behind off the glove.
In the last over before lunch Imam-ul-Haq, watching four wickets fell at
the other end, gave an easy catch to forward short-leg off Patel for 22.
Earlier, New Zealand declared their second innings on 353-7 after some 45
minutes of batting with Henry Nicholls remaining unbeaten on 126 and Kane
Williamson dismissed at his overnight score of 139.
That 212-run stand between Williamson which brought New Zealand back into
the game on Thursday, was finally broken with the very first ball of the day.
Medium pacer Hasan Ali trapped Williamson leg before and even a review did
not prolong the New Zealand skipper’s innings.
But his 283-ball knock, containing 13 boundaries, turned the match.
Nicholls took a sharp single to complete his third Test hundred and
finished with 12 hits to the ropes during his 266-ball knock.
De Grandhomme struck two boundaries and two sixes as New Zealand added 81
runs in 45 minutes, ensuring they set up a daunting target for Pakistan.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah finished with 4-129 and debutant paceman Shaheen
Shah Afridi took 2-85.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1857 hrs