The third Test, in Sharjah, has now become a must-win affair for New Zealand to avoid a series defeat while Pakistan will be looking to ensure that the series does not end in a result other than a Pakistan victory after their exploits on these very stadia against Australia not too long ago. Given the nature of the Sharjah pitch, Pakistan’s spinners will be looking forward to bowling on it and New Zealand may very well have to undergo a trial by fire if they are to level the series.

By Tanzeel ur Rehman (21st November, 2014)

After three emphatic victories on the trot, Pakistan would certainly be a little disappointed by how the second Test against New Zealand ended. A favorable result was within reach as little as 17 overs before the scheduled close of play before a string of low scoring overs resulted in a draw being the only option for Pakistan to play for.

After calling correctly at the toss, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum chose to bat as expected and his side made full use of the good batting conditions early on to score 403. Tom Latham was the standout performer in the innings as he scored a sublime 135, negotiating Pakistan’s spinners and pacers with ease. Zulfiqar Babar was Pakistan’s most successful bowler, picking up four wickets, but he conceded over a third of New Zealand’s runs as his four wickets cost 137 runs.

Pakistan’s reply in the first innings was shaky, with both openers out with the score on 34. Younis Khan and Azhar Ali, both of whom have been experiencing something of a purple patch in recent times, scored 72 and 75 respectively but Pakistan still ended up nine down with New Zealand still leading by 91 before Sarfraz Ahmed scored a typically counterattacking back-against-the-wall century to reduce New Zealand’s lead to a mere ten runs by the time Pakistan’s last wicket fell. The innings was notable for Brendon McCullum, a veteran of 88 Tests prior to this one, who picked up up his first Test wicket in his 89th match. 

New Zealand, after competing fiercely for the first half of the game, threatened to throw it all away as they found half their side back in the pavilion with their lead just 135 and a whole day’s worth of play and a few overs of day four still left. Ross Taylor, who had been battling a wretched run of form in the first three innings of the series after being drafted in the side despite not having fully recovered from injury, beat his demons into submission as he scored a counterattacking 104 off just 133 deliveries. Yasir Shah, Pakistan’s best bowler for the innings, picked up his maiden five wicket haul in Test cricket including the wicket of the centurion Taylor. Tim Southee hit Zulfiqar Babar for three sixes off successive deliveries to complete fifty sixes for himself in Test cricket in only his 36th match. He was out for 20, off 5 deliveries and immediately afterwards New Zealand declared, setting Pakistan 261 to win in 72 overs.

Pakistan’s chase was troubled from the get-go as Taufeeq Umar edged one off Tim Southee straight to keeper Watling with the score on eight. Azhar Ali and Shan Masood then played more than 25 overs to add 62 to the total. Azhar Ali was out on 70 when he lobbed a full toss straight to Neesham in cover and Shan Masood was trapped LBW by Boult with the score on 73. Misbah ul Haq was out without scoring as Pakistan were left in a precarious position, needing 186 to win from 40.1 overs. Younis Khan, in the middle of a golden period as a batsman, scored 44 before an attempted six landed in the fielder’s hands and Asad Shafiq was left in the middle with Sarfraz Ahmad, the last recognized batsman in Pakistan’s lineup. The two tried to make a match of it – and it looked with reach when 112 were required off 17 overs with five wickets still in hand – but a few low scoring overs meant that a win was no longer within reach. Both sides agreed to call it a draw with five overs still to go.

The third Test, in Sharjah, has now become a must-win affair for New Zealand to avoid a series defeat while Pakistan will be looking to ensure that the series does not end in a result other than a Pakistan victory after their exploits on these very stadia against Australia not too long ago. Given the nature of the Sharjah pitch, Pakistan’s spinners will be looking forward to bowling on it and New Zealand may very well have to undergo a trial by fire if they are to level the series.

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