PAK vs NZ: Sarfaraz Ahmed and Imam-ul-Haq partnership helped Pakistan

• Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, was bowled out by googly from Ish Sodhi.
• The tourists declared their first innings on 612-9.
• Williamson hit 21 fours and a six while reversing two leg-before rulings.

PAK vs NZ: During lunch on the fifth day of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi, Pakistan’s score of 181-4 gave them a seven-run advantage.

Even though Pakistan lost two wickets early in the morning session, the unbeaten 81-run partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed kept them from being completely blown out of the water.

Four-run scorer Nauman was sent back to the pavilion after being hit low on the front pad by a ball from Bracewell’s inner edge while attempting to defend it on the front foot.

The Pakistani team’s captain, Babar Azam, was bowled out by a googly from Ish Sodhi. Outside off pitch with spin that maintained the ball just a hair below the ground. The Pakistani leader attempted a pull but was smacked in the stomach in the centre of the field. Right-handed batter could muster only 14 points.

Pakistan has been swept by England 3-0 for the first time in their history, one of four consecutive Test defeats.

On a surface that hasn’t taken a severe turn so far, the home team should be able to salvage at least a tie at National Stadium, but their repeated middle-order breakdowns have given New Zealand a chance to win.

The first wicket to go yesterday was the opener, Abdullah Shafique, who was caught at mid-on for 17 after playing an ill-advised lofted ball off spinner Michael Bracewell.

Then, Haq and Nauman put an end to the day after Shan Masood was given out leg before off Ish Sodhi for 10.

The tourists declared their first innings on 612-9, a healthy 174-run advantage over Pakistan’s 438, thanks to Williamson’s undefeated double century.

During his ten-hour innings, Williamson hit 21 fours and a six while reversing two leg-before rulings, one at 13 and another at 116, off spinner Abrar Ahmed.

He avoided being stumped on 15 and 21 times by spinner Nauman.

At the end of the first session, with the score at 440-6, Williamson and Sodhi put up a valiant fight against Pakistan’s bowling, raising the score to 595 before the latter’s wicket was taken.

Against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2018, Sodhi was caught by Ahmed for 65, which was a personal high.

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