Once again, the sun shone bright in the UAE and so did the Pakistan team. New Zealand were pushed further towards a heavy defeat after what proved to be another easy outing for the hosts. The result is pretty much obvious and tomorrow's day of play, for all practical purposes, now remains a mere formality.

By Tanzeel ur Rehman & Farid Khan (12th November, 2014)

Stumps Day 4: Pakistan 566/3d & 175/2d, New Zealand 262 & 174/8 (54 ov)

The UAE, well and truly, has turned into Pakistan's fortress in recent times as Pakistan continued their pummeling of New Zealand in the first Test on day 4.

Starting the day on their overnight score of 15, Mohammad Hafeez and makeshift opener Azhar Ali began the day positively, taking quick runs right from the get go. They added 54 to the total in 12.4 overs before Azhar Ali was out LBW, trying to sweep Ish Sodhi. 

Younis Khan, who joined Mohammad Hafeez at the crease, made his intent clear early on as he too went for the attack from the first ball. His 70-run partnership with Mohammad Hafeez was built at a run rate of 4.5, with Mohammad Hafeez being the more aggressive of the too. Younis Khan too was out LBW to Ish Sodhi in what was almost a replay of the Azhar Ali wicket. Sarfraz Ahmed walked in at four instead of captain Misbah-ul-Haq, but he did not have to spend much time in the middle as Pakistan declared immediately after Mohammad Hafeez reached 100, on 175-2, with Sarfraz having faced just 14 deliveries for his 13 runs.

New Zealand began their chase of 480 in an aggressive manner, with openers Brendon McCullum and Tom Latham taking a particular liking to Rahat Ali, who was by far the best bowler in the previous innings. They added 57 in 13 overs, at a run rate in excess of 4, before Tom Latham top-edged a Zulfiqar Babar delivery, while trying to sweep it and Yasir Shah, one of the better fielders in Pakistan, took a difficult catch to give Pakistan their first breakthrough and trigger a batting collapse.

New Zealand lost their next two wickets in 3 overs, as captain Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor were both unable to negotiate Yasir Shah’s flippers and were trapped LBW, plumb in front of the wickets. Much like Younis Khan and Azhar Ali’s dismissals, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor’s too were nearly identical.

Corey Anderson and Kane Williamson tried to plug the floodgates as they added 42, but another collapse was triggered, when Rahat Ali dismissed Jimmy Neesham and BJ Watling on successive deliveries as New Zealand lost 4 more wickets for 10 runs in less than 6 overs, going from 111-3 to 121-7 in the space of 26 deliveries.Tim Southee was the eighth wicket to fall, when he was bowled by Zulfiqar Babar on 5.

Late in the day, New Zealand spinners Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi offered some resistance and steadied the sinking ship. They made sure the match was prolonged till day 5 and were both unbeaten on 27, when the last ball of day 4 was delivered. New Zealand ended the day on 174/8, needing 306 more runs to achieve a rather unlikely victory.

Once again, the sun shone bright in the UAE and so did the Pakistan team. New Zealand were pushed further towards a heavy defeat after what proved to be another easy outing for the hosts. The result is pretty much obvious and tomorrow's day of play, for all practical purposes, now remains a mere formality.

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