As Pakistan take to the field tomorrow, they have a mammoth task on their hand if they wish to win the game instead of just being satisfied with a draw. New Zealand still lead by over a hundred runs and Pakistan have their backs to wall as their tail is now exposed to New Zealand’s bowlers. Sarfraz Ahmad is still in the middle and he will need to play the innings of his life to save the game for Pakistan.

By Tanzeel ur Rehman (19th November, 2014)

It was a slow day at work for all parties involved as Pakistan batted all day at a leisurely pace, scoring 247 in 90 overs.

Pakistan’s batting effort wasn’t helped by the fact that they had lost both their openers early, in the dying hours of day 2, with New Zealand still 370 ahead. Azhar Ali and Younis Khan continued Pakistan’s innings from their overnight score of 34-2, batting 45 overs on day 3 to add 111 runs to the two they had put together on day 2. Though the two batted at well under three runs to the over during their partnership of 113, Younis managed to find time to free his arms, hitting two huge sixes.

In an innings where he looked well set, Younis was dismissed on 72 as he played a reckless shot to a lose delivery by Jimmy Neesham, falling short of his 29th Test century.

Misbah ul Haq, who has hit a rich vein of form lately, strolled in next and made his intentions clear early on as he swept Mark Craig for a huge six just 17 deliveries into his innings. Azhar Ali meanwhile was firmly in his shell on the other end as he continued to block and wait. Misbah and Azhar’s 50 run partnership spanned in excess of 20 overs before Misbah was beaten by a delivery from Trent Boult that didn’t move, after several that swung, which he proceeded to edge to Ross Taylor in first slip.

Misbah’s dismissal gave Asad Shafiq, who had only batted twice in the last three Tests he played, a chance to get some much needed time in the middle. In Azhar Ali, he had a settled partner on the other end who had batted all day and was nearing his century but just eight overs after Misbah was out, Azhar too fell, 25 short of his century, as he was unable to play an Ish Sodhi delivery that turned from leg stump.

The turn of events left Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, the two batsmen who have had to bat the least in Tests off all Pakistan’s batsmen in recent times, to do a job they haven’t had to do recently, as they had to bat out the rest of the day and wipe out Pakistan’s 183 run deficit.

Sarfraz broke the shackles in the dying hours of the day as he went after Mark Craig in the 102nd over of the innings, taking three boundaries off it to bring up Pakistan’s 250. Shafiq promptly hit Craig for a six of his own to evaporate any pressure the bowler had built up over the day but he was out for 44 in the 108th over of the innings as he pushed lazily at a length ball by Tim Southee, edging it to first slip. Yasir Shah played out the last over of the day.

As Pakistan take to the field tomorrow, they have a mammoth task on their hand if they wish to win the game instead of just being satisfied with a draw. New Zealand still lead by over a hundred runs and Pakistan have their backs to wall as their tail is now exposed to New Zealand’s bowlers. Sarfraz Ahmad is still in the middle and he will need to play the innings of his life to save the game for Pakistan.

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