Pakistan vs New Zealand first Test draws due to Bad lights

• Pakistani captain Babar Azam declared Pakistan’s second innings at 311-8.
• Tourists sped to 61-1 in the eighth over when poor lighting forced a draw.
• Devon Conway was still unblemished, while Tom Latham had 18 runs for New Zealand.

The first Test between Pakistan vs New Zealand ended in a tie on Friday at National Stadium Karachi. In a fun closing session on the fifth and final day, poor lighting cut short the visitors’ victorious charge.

In the final session of the match, Pakistani captain Babar Azam issued a challenge by declaring Pakistan’s second innings at 311-8. The tourists sped to 61-1 in the eighth over when poor lighting forced a draw, leaving New Zealand requiring 138 runs from the final 15 overs to win.

With 35 points, Devon Conway was still unblemished, while Tom Latham had 18. The lone wicket to go for three runs was Michael Bracewell. After resuming on 77-2, Pakistan lost nightwatchman Nauman Ali early when spinner Bracewell trapped him leg-before.

After scoring 161 in Pakistan’s first innings of 438 runs, captain Babar Azam was dismissed for 14 by Ish Sodhi in the same manner. The host team’s best scorer was Imamul Haq, who had 96 points, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, who had 53 points in his comeback game, but Pakistan’s bottom order saved them.

Before Sodhi struck, Imam and Sarfaraz had stubbornly put up 85 runs for the fifth wicket, restoring home team hopes of salvaging a tie. In order to leave Pakistan on 206-7, he bowled Salman Agha, caught Sarfaraz behind, and finally stumped Imam. Imam scored his sixth half-century with 10 boundaries and a six, while Sarfaraz had seven knocks to the rope.

Imam overcame LBW appeals from the bowler at 58 and 74. On his way to the dressing room, Imam shattered a chair with his bat because he was so furious over being fired. As he surpassed his previous high of 4-60 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo four years prior, Sodhi emerged as the star of the show.

The 30-year-old, who was taking part in his first Test match in four years, helped New Zealand win the match by taking three wickets in the second session, which left Pakistan on 249-7 at tea with 35 overs remaining in the contest. However, a 71-run eighth wicket stand between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim, who both finished with scores of 55 not out, lasted 75 minutes and 111 balls, prevented New Zealand from winning.

Sodhi brought back a career-high 6-86. The home team appeared uneasy as a result of Babar’s surprising late declaration, and New Zealand responded effectively to the challenge despite losing Bracewell in the first over.

“I wouldn’t say the win slipped away,” Tim Southee, in his first match since taking over as New Zealand’s Test captain, said. “We had to hang in and take chances. To have lost the toss and have had a chance was pleasing.”

Pakistan skipper Babar said they wanted to get a result. “As I said at the toss, and so we went for the declaration. But the light was not good enough, so it ended in a draw.” Kane Williamson was adjudged player-of-the-match for his unbeaten 200 in his first test since relinquishing the red-ball captaincy. “I still had quite a few chats with Tim,” Williamson said of his role in the side.

“Nice to spend some time out there and make a contribution… You have to do things a bit differently here than back home.” The second Test, also in Karachi, begins on Monday.

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