PAK vs NZ: Ish Sodhi took maiden five-wicket in Test cricket

• Pakistan led by 75 wickets at tea on the final day in Karachi.
• Ish Sodhi took three wickets after lunch to add to the one he took last night.
• Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim added 43.

Ish Sodhi took maiden five-wicket in Test cricket left Pakistan near to a fifth straight loss, but Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim added 43 in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand. Pakistan led by 75 wickets at tea on the final day in Karachi. New Zealand still has 35 overs to win.

Sodhi took control of the meeting after lunch. Sodhi took three wickets after lunch to add to the one he took last night.

Imam-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed’s 85-run fifth-wicket stand restored Pakistan’s innings after Babar’s wicket. After lunch, Sarfaraz scored his second half-century but then was out. Sarfaraz toe-ended Sodhi’s short, wide delivery into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

Pakistan sent Salman Agha over Saud Shakeel to maintain the left-right balance. Sodhi got by Agha’s defences early in the second innings.

Sodhi’s next over crushed Pakistan’s aspirations. Imam countered Sodhi’s outside off turn throughout his innings. At 96, he used his feet again, but Sodhi sneaked in a googly that left him so far down the wicket that Tom Blundell’s tiny delay didn’t matter.

Imam was enraged. He shattered a chair on the way back to the pavilion and threw away his bat. Shakeel and Wasim kept New Zealand at bay following the second new ball.

Tim Southee produced a chance in the morning when Imam edged a full ball. But there was no slide, so Imam reached 50. New Zealand’s first morning wicket came quickly. Next over, Bracewell lbw Nauman Ali.

After repelling the first few deliveries, Babar took advantage when Bracewell erred on the short side. In a 12-run over, the Pakistan skipper pulled the offspinner twice.

Sodhi struck with his first ball, catching Babar lbw. Babar challenged the on-field decision but was unsuccessful.

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