Pakistan collapse to first series defeat to New Zealand in 30 years
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New Zealand took nine wickets in a dramatic final session of the second Test against Pakistan to win by 130 runs in Hamilton on Tuesday and clean sweep their series 2-0.
It was New Zealand's first series win over Pakistan since 1985.
Pakistan were faced with an imposing 369-run target in their second innings but set themselves up for a run-a-ball slog when they reached tea on the final day at 158-1.
The match edged towards a cliff-hanger finish before Tim Southee removed Pakistan's leading run scorer Sami Aslam for 91.
That started a rapid collapse which saw their last eight wickets fall for 49 in 20 overs with Neil Wagner taking the last three for no runs in just six deliveries.
The series win to New Zealand, after a first Test triumph in Christchurch, means Pakistan fall from second to fourth in the world rankings while New Zealand remain seventh.
After reaching tea on the final day needing 211 off 204 deliveries, Pakistan could only ponder whether they left their charge too late.
Openers Azhar Ali (58 off 161 deliveries) and Aslam (91 off 238) laid the platform with a record fourth innings opening stand for Pakistan of 131 but it lasted a time-consuming 60 overs before Azhar was dismissed.
The arrival of Babar Azam to the crease was a signal to lift the pace but the pitch was still offering support to the bowlers on the fifth day.
Azhar (58) played on trying to hit leg-spinner Mitchell Santner out of the ground and Azam (16) went in similar fashion on the fourth ball after tea.
Aslam, trying to raise the tempo having reached his highest Test score, mistimed a drive off Tim Southee to give Kane Williamson catching practice at mid-off.
Sarfraz Ahmed was run out for 19 off 21 and Asad Shafiq did not get off the mark. Veteran Younis Khan, on his 39th birthday, struggled to 11 before he went lbw to Southee.
Sohail Khan fell to Colin de Grandhomme for eight and Wagner removed Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Imran Khan all without scoring, leaving Mohammad Rizwan not out 13.
It was a Test that began with all the early signs in Pakistan's favour.
They won the toss on a lush green surface and celebrated with a wicket in the first over. But that bright start faded rapidly and in the end not even the loss of more than four sessions to rain could save them.
Reaching 369 would have meant over-taking the record successful fourth innings chase in New Zealand of 348-5 by the West Indies 47 years ago in Auckland.
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On DawnNews
Comments (91) Closed
Nov 29, 2016 08:20am
Excellent fight back by opening batsmen.
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Nov 29, 2016 08:46am
Such a slow start. With a target of 369 in one day, Pakistan needed a good start, but both the openers were so cautious, they scored at less than 2 runs an over. With the balls each of them had faced, even 25 more runs each would have made it a lot easier for the Pakistan after tea.
The opening pair must life the tempo a little and make sure that they use the time they spend on the crease. If they continue to play such defensive cricket, this opening pair will be responsible for Pakistan not getting results in the future.
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Nov 29, 2016 09:00am
Someone explain to me the need for Sarfraz to by so hyper in this innings?
Completely immature performance given the team's position.
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Nov 29, 2016 09:29am
As long as Misbah and Younis are in the team you can forget about winning any test matches outside subcontinent..they play too defensive which put pressure around young players to go out and play defensive to which is againsg thier aggressive and natural.game
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Nov 29, 2016 09:40am
I just checked the latest score, we are about to lose this match. I don't think we will do well in Australia. We need to play with grit if we are to survive in that part of the world. We are not there yet
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Nov 29, 2016 09:53am
Pakistan falling apart here...first wicket falling at 60th over...still not able to save match..really pathetic
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Nov 29, 2016 10:02am
Misbah should stay back in Pakistan as he miserably failed to score in both innings and hence New Zealand very convincingly and now in second test our defeat is very much imminent and may before I complete my sentence we be blown out in any case. So we lost with Misbah and without Misbah. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Nov 29, 2016 10:02am
Now 230/9, 138 to win.
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Nov 29, 2016 10:17am
All over pakistan all out. Thank you. Time for me to stop watching cricket
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Nov 29, 2016 11:19am
When 131/0 in 59.5 overs becomes 230/9 in 90 overs, you deserve to lose.
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Nov 29, 2016 11:24am
Better luck next time!!!
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Nov 29, 2016 11:39am
Play only in UAE not other part of the world. In this condition 300+ ran is huge total. So best opening bowling pair is Junaid & Amer. Ask your secectors to watch Junaid playing at BPL
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Nov 29, 2016 11:47am
it look like 2 pakistani teams are playing 10 on one side and 1 on one side ... 6 catches dropeed of amir bowling it is coincidence or what?
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Nov 29, 2016 11:48am
Same batting performance will continue in the tour of Australia that what we are good at.
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Nov 29, 2016 11:50am
This is what happens when you keep defending. Pakistani openers should have attached a bit more and put the pressure on the Kiwi bowlers. Instead, New Zealand knew that Pakistani batsmen had left themselves too much to do, and in the end they faded trying to make quick runs. They should have made at least another 70 runs in the first two sessions. That would have left them with 140 to chase in the final session. If the Pakistani openers keep batting with strike rates of 20, Pakistan will never win any games.
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Nov 29, 2016 11:58am
Azhar ali type players have no technique to play in challenging conditions
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Nov 29, 2016 12:06pm
Nothing new. Personally i stopped watching cricket for a long time now. Time to invest more in Boxing, bodybuilding, hockey, tennis and squash, in which we have got a lot of potential.
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Nov 29, 2016 12:14pm
well done Kiwis, good luck for ODIs & T20 to white wash Pakistan!!
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Nov 29, 2016 12:15pm
One minute silence for those, who did not sleep last night only to watch Pakistan's stunning victory in Hamilton Test
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Nov 29, 2016 12:16pm
Well done Azhar Ali
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Nov 29, 2016 12:26pm
@Hashim should have done is easy to say while being there defending better bowlers than west indies is another thing. managers are to be blamed. everyone should play their game the way they did to get selected in the team instead of listening to slow or fast play.They should play what qualified them to be in the team
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Nov 29, 2016 12:31pm
selector is responsible for changing Misbah with Mohammad Rizwan, i am very saddened that they keep giving him chances without any reason or performance.
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Nov 29, 2016 12:33pm
What a match... really enjoyable... great bowling from the Kiwis
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Nov 29, 2016 12:33pm
As per expectation and the same lot will go to face Australia.Good luck.
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Nov 29, 2016 12:36pm
Can anyone tell the reason of Rizwan's inclusion. Is there a logic to have an extra wicket-keeper in the team, while batting line is struggling?
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Nov 29, 2016 12:41pm
Best result why they didn't they play probably they were so slow every time they do this
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Nov 29, 2016 01:18pm
Always felt their number 1 ranking was misleading,the top ranked teams are pretty average at moment.
In last 12 months this so called team has collapsed in around a season against England,West Indies & New Zealand.
For how long is Wahab going to remain in the team for a few good one day performance.No application in his batting as well.
For how long are the selectors going to ignore Fawad Alam, a natural test batsman?
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Nov 29, 2016 01:17pm
I have no idea why w always take lightly the conditions down under, why can't we prepare and select teams according to the bouncy tracks, green wickets, madness!!
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Nov 29, 2016 01:21pm
Well done New Zealand. They deserved victory. The Pak Team needs strict discipline, resposibility and will to win. The team needs hard work and good training. Being just a "STAR" is not enough. I hope, they recover from this washout and perform well in Australia.
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Nov 29, 2016 01:23pm
@Hashim: Who told you that Pakistan tried to score quick and win?
Pakistan needed around 3 runs per over to win, but with Tuk-Tuk Azhar, following his mantor Tuk-tuka Misbah, Pakistan initially started with around 1 runs per over and by the time they consumed half the overs (or 50 overs), Pakistan was scoring at 2 runs per over and by then Pakistan required run rate increased to over 4 runs per over. Anyhow, Pakistan did not increased run rate, rather, they were showing how to block and then Pakistani nerve gave in. Thus Pakistan collapsed in next 40 overs.
So, whatever Azhar claimed, fact is that, Pakistan was going for draw from first over. I think even if they had tried to win, what was not difficult, but in unlikely case of loosing cheap wickets, Pakistan could have slowed down and achieve draw.
When NZ realized that Pakistan has no intention to go for win, they obviously became bold and confident, resulting in aggressive bowling and fielding positions, givign them victory.
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Nov 29, 2016 02:00pm
No wonder Fake IPL Player used to call this team "Weapons of Self Destruction". @HASHIM. It is silly to think of making 369 runs on last day. You can't even make that many even on first day. Openers were right in trying to draw the match. Rest self destructed and couldn't even last a session. @IQBAL HADI ZAIDI, Dude, Misbah didn't even play this match, what are you blaming him for.
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Nov 29, 2016 02:05pm
Come on boys, you will do better in the upcoming games due to all that you have learned here. Form is temporary, class is permanent. India also just lost a wicket against England on the fourth day, perhaps they will also crash, burn and fizzle out due to Anderson, Stokes and the excellent Rashid.
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Nov 29, 2016 02:06pm
Losing 8 wickets for 49 runs deserves to lose the match. Demotion in test rankings from 2 to 4 is now a signal of facing the reality and more to come in Australia. Better luck!
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Nov 29, 2016 02:14pm
There was never any chance of winning this match. The openers did extremely well. The rest of the team should have stuck to the script and batted out the day. Quite mindless performance.
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Nov 29, 2016 02:26pm
Such a miserable performance. AzHar is a flop in odi as a captain and now in test matches too
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Nov 29, 2016 02:47pm
I never want to see Pakistan loose so badly but with their current form Australia will score 600+ run. So sad!!
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Nov 29, 2016 02:57pm
@SHAZAD. I don't know where you learnt Maths from. But Pakistan needed more than 4 RPO (360+ in 90 overs) and not 3. And that too on last day wicket. Can you tell any other team which has scored that many on last day and won. No team has done that ever. And instead of blaming the other 9 batsmen who couldn't even play out 1 session between them, you are blaming the 2 openers who did the sensible thing and played out 2 sessions between them.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:01pm
@riz1 India won. They are toppers for a reason
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Nov 29, 2016 03:05pm
@riz1 u wish alot .
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Nov 29, 2016 03:05pm
This team is a real shame to international cricket and Pakistan.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:04pm
@Asif : Well my friend, it is just a matter of time before these departments get the attention of making money and all these cronies will jump in there and those departments will be destroyed as well. These corrupt official are like cancer and unless and until it is surgically removed nothing will be saved from them.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:08pm
@ali : Well you must be either Azhar Ali himself , otherwise no one in his sensible mind will defend these two weak links. If you are Azhar Ali please vanish and do us a favour take your buddy opening partner with you as well along with YK
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Nov 29, 2016 03:09pm
You don't form a team to draw matches. You form it to win. Everything is organized to win, even defense. Playing for draw is a good strategy only when you're facing certain defeat. Draw should be the last option, after all efforts to win are expired. But of course you'll need winning players in team, leaving no place for those you want in.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:15pm
@riz1 - India thrash England by 8 wickets. Don't try to assume things before they happen.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:26pm
Surprising, 5 wickets in hand they could not play 19.3 overs to avoid the defeat.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:31pm
@riz1 "India also just lost a wicket against England on the fourth day, perhaps they will also crash, burn and fizzle out due to Anderson, Stokes"
Well, looks like India just won 104/2 against England and in the hurry to finish it off in the 4th day itself, with a RR of 5.11. Hopefully if they beat the current No.2 England 4-0, Pakistan will be back to No. 3 rating. All the best to Pakistan against No.3 Australia, so that we can be No.1 and 2 again!
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Nov 29, 2016 03:29pm
@PAKISTAN FIRST. It is funny how 2 months back, Pakistani Fans were hailing this team when it became #1 in Tests briefly. How it was well deserved and how it has made the nation proud. One series loss and it is suddenly is the worst team around. I hate to say it, but apparently a lot of Pakistani fans are "Weapons of self destruction" too
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Nov 29, 2016 03:38pm
Green-shirts in trouble, once again.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:40pm
India winning Pakistan failing
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Nov 29, 2016 03:45pm
Well done team pakistan....WHOLE TEAM NOW GO AND HUNT FISH AS YOU CAN DO THIS JOB VERY WELL....
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Nov 29, 2016 03:44pm
@sri1: Pakistan has already reached the No. 4 status after losing today. Fact check please.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:49pm
@riz1 India blasted England on the fourth day & winning very easily.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:52pm
@KUNAL MAJUMDAR I think he is aware of this. They can reach to 3rd position if India beat England by 4-0.
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Nov 29, 2016 04:03pm
Pak bench is full coaching staff ...bowling coach, fielding coach, batting coach etc. What are they doing catch is dropping, no game plan. Still board is requesting Meshab to serve few more years. Why you are not talk about change of PCB guys ?
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Nov 29, 2016 05:00pm
Are the selectors, who proudly proclaim the same team for the Australia tests, going to do a mea culpa from their smug ivory tower? Bring in Umar Akmal to reinforce the middle order. Play a spinner and please replace Wahab Riaz, who bleeds runs profusely in return for an increasingly rare flash of brilliance with the ball.
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Nov 29, 2016 05:14pm
@riz1
Brothers India won by 8 wickets. How does that justify Pakistans loss
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Nov 29, 2016 05:25pm
@VPS
What you are talking of Pakistan "may reach No 3"??? They had sunk to No 4 hours ago...
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Nov 29, 2016 05:28pm
Problem with Pakistan cricket is that they are not nurturing young talent while they have their great ate playing. For example, Look at the India team they bring Virat Kohli while they have Ganguly, Sachin and Dravid are there.
Babar Azam is a good find but Pakistan should not put too much pressure on him.
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Nov 29, 2016 06:02pm
I am just a fan of cricket. I fail to understand is that a lot of expectations are attached with the openness. It is true the openners played slow. It would have made easier to chase the runs if the RPO was kept around 3. However, the openners played well and gave some hope of winning. The way the middle order and the tail just collapsed is mind blowing. I believe Pakistan Poor fielding and failure to limit the kiwis in scoring in the second inning was a key factor for Pakistan to loose the test match.
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Nov 29, 2016 06:12pm
Welcome to the really world of cricket for Pakistan
That's the real time for real push ups
Where's our selectors and PCB now when come to screen they would still have excuses
They take any thing on their shoulders what a corrupt committee
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Nov 29, 2016 06:14pm
The game was lost by Azhar and Sami. Between the two they faced 399 balls and scored 149 runs. They tried to play it like one day game, save the wickets and hit at last. But never scored enough initially. We need players who can score at a reasonable pace and who are not scared of batting. With Azhar and Sami, we should have have never gone after the target. As a matter of fact, Azhar and Sami should not be openers. They play same type of game which is just blocking. One should open and other should come lower down the order. One opener should be aggressive, while other should block. Finally, there is supposed to be a batting coach in the team, does he ever spend time to coach bowlers how to bat? It is pathetic how tailenders just give away their wickets. Overall, a horrible performance from the team. Unfortunately this is not the end, more of the same coming during the Australian tour.
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Nov 29, 2016 06:26pm
Again the tuk tuk negative approach was the the reason of the defeat.The openers should have scored more than 200 in the first 60 overs.Pak changed the coach & selection committee & the result is they lost the series after 32 years.I don't understand why they played so defensively.The pak batsman should learn from Kohli the art of batting.
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Nov 29, 2016 06:51pm
@TRUTH ALWAYS
They don't have any odi and t20's in this series.Sorry,your wish couldn't fulfilled, later.
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Nov 29, 2016 06:58pm
@Hashim
Clearly yo do not know what Test cricket is all about.
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Nov 29, 2016 07:01pm
@Ahmed Asif
I already said changing coach etc will never work for Pakistan, only application in the field by the players will work.
Who asked bowlers to give away too many runs,they did not put the ball 8n the right areas,they seemed toothless.Fielding was very very poor and batting ,what should I say,totally a failure.
They should bring Umer Akmal and give him responsibility to be a part of middle order.Some aggressive and stroke players are required in the middle order,every team has a couple of players like that.You don't have much talent in your domestic circuit.So,give Umer a chance in the test side.I hope,it will work out.
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Nov 29, 2016 07:09pm
Blame PCB. Azhar Ali does not deserve to be captain yet they keep persisting with him. It only shows that just like Azhar Ali is unfit to be captain, Sethi & co. are unfit to run PCB.
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Nov 29, 2016 07:21pm
sack the coach
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Nov 29, 2016 07:25pm
@KUNAL MAJUMDAR
what a fall from 1 to 4
shows coach no longer is able to control the usual divided team
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Nov 29, 2016 08:37pm
Shows the value of good old fashioned cricket practise over push ups. But then Pakistan have always been the world's most talented side so perhaps they believe it is their birthright to win in spite of not practising or having talent.
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Nov 29, 2016 09:01pm
Some facts to consider after this defeat, Azhar is not fit as a captain and wins in UAE on spin friendly pitches fails to produce any quality batsman.
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Nov 29, 2016 09:04pm
@ali: I think you are not aware of Last day overs rule. For your help:
Last hour of 5th day was to start after 80 overs and needed min 15 overs in last hour. Due to earlier days rain, game started half hour earlier, adding additional 6 to 7 overs. Thus Hamilton test had min 101 overs on last day (barring stoppages due to rain or light). Pakistan needed 269 runs to win.
So, Pakistan needed ~3 runs per over in first 40 overs. If Pakistan do not lose too many wickets (lose 2 to 3 wkts at most) then needed ~4 runs in remaining 61 overs. That was needed to not only win but even to draw, as that would have kept NZ on toe throughout. Unfortunately, when Azhar got out in 60th over, Pakistan had 131 runs (made ~2 runs per over), leaving 238 runs in next 41 overs (~6 runs per over). That was too many runs.
Actually, after 50 overs, target got so high (~6 runs per over) that NZ realized Pakistan could not win. So they opened up, got aggressive in bowling and fielding, and Pakistan lost.
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Nov 29, 2016 09:19pm
Pakistan had some great batsmen in recent past such as Miandad, Salim Malik, Ijaz Ahmed, Aamir Sohail, Inzamam who could blast away as well as block when needed...but Azhar, Misbah and Younis are NOT amongst them.
The team is loaded with Misbah style players who just block... it was painful to watch this pathetic batting lineup. Shameful surrender!
We need to bring Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, Shan Masood, Ahmed Shahzad and Umar Akmal. Only Babar Azam and Sami Aslam & may be Azhar (though he is extremely poor in technicique against moving ball) deserve to keep their spots.
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Nov 29, 2016 09:21pm
I think Pakistani batsmen need to build on their temperament. Winning the day was difficult, but they should have played for a draw. That is why this is called test cricket - it tests every aspect of a player's ability.
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Nov 29, 2016 09:26pm
coach has failed
get a new one
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Nov 29, 2016 09:44pm
@Hashim Chasing a target of 369 on the 5th day basically meant that match was for Pakistan to draw or lose. The opening batsmen gave Pakistan the best chance they could through a solid opening stand, which the following batsmen squandered.
And you are blaming the opening batsmen!
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Nov 29, 2016 09:44pm
Actually, at the start of the test, Pakistan had around 600 balls to score 369 runs. But Pakistani openers (cause of Pakistan defeat) were so dud that they made 149 runs in 399 balls (66.5 over). (Azhar made 58 runs in 161 balls, Sami made 91 runs in 238 balls. These two dud openers left the rest of the team to make 220 runs in remaining 201 balls (33.5 overs), or over 6 runs per over.
After 50 overs, NZ realized that time for Pakistan to even think of winning was gone. Hence, NZ opened up, got confident (that they could not lose the test, hence already won the series), got confident, aggressive and bold. Meanwhile, Pakistan lost all confidence, hopes and interest, got into pressure, became nervous playing for draw or loss, got jittery and lost.
So, culprit of this loss are obvious. Azhar's Captaincy and approach to match, plus batting of Azhar and Sami ... who left no option for the team other than drawing or losing.
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Nov 29, 2016 10:28pm
@Akber
what about YK,he remains inconsistent and scores one big hundred to gag his critics.But in Aus,there are least chances for him to score runs.
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Nov 29, 2016 10:37pm
@kamran
No coach can be successful with pakistani team,I already said.
Pakistani players don't apply themselves in the field as per the game plan.The pitch that was conducive for the fast bowlers,they gave away plenty of runs,they did not bowl with the right line and length(That was thought our strongest area),batting and fielding ,we already know is mediocre.
Amir seems off color,i know catches have been dropped on his bowling,yet he is not that effective.
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Nov 29, 2016 10:43pm
@Only truth No,Pakistan brought Umer Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad,but these players are not matured like V.Kohli ,they are only themselves t blame because they got plenty chances,they performed inconsistently.
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Nov 29, 2016 10:54pm
@kamran
only need to change players' mindset and no coach can instill this,players will have to do it themselves.
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Nov 29, 2016 11:27pm
Well done Azhar and Sami, but as usual the rest of Pakistani batting line up crashed under pressure. Infact Babar Azsm, Younus Khan, Asad Shafiq, and Sarfaraz Ahmed let down Pakistan in this crucial test.
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Nov 29, 2016 11:45pm
So rank 4 in tests, 8 in ODI, and 7 in T20?
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Nov 30, 2016 02:05am
Some of the most stupid batting by Pakistan that I have ever seen or read about. But congratulations to New Zealand, who outclassed us in both tests.
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Nov 30, 2016 07:53am
Where is Fawad Alam, his domestic average is 57%, better than any Pakistani Player in the current team. In the last New Zealand tour he was among the top Pakistani Batsman. Forget about his technique, look at his records. He is winning the match for his team as well as for Pakistan.
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Nov 30, 2016 08:28am
It is one thing to become World's No.1 team in Test Cricket (for a brief period) and all together another ball game to retain it even for six months.
Tour to Australia will test the character and strength of the team to the core (both mentally and physically). Considering the performance against NZ, I think Pakistan Team should be ready for a roast in Australia.
India has now not lost (won or drawn) 16 Test matches on a stretch. Time for Pakistan team to focus on skills like Intensity, Session-by-Session approach, overall balanced performance - else, be ready to not to figure in top 5 test cricket team in next 6 months.
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Nov 30, 2016 10:46am
Whats wrong with younis khan since he is not having decent scores after final test with england. i felt he will be having good outing against windies in UAE and kiwis.
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Nov 30, 2016 11:07am
Dramatic collapse doesn't sound too dramatic. It was bound to happen. These players usually crumble under pressure or no pressure.
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Nov 30, 2016 12:44pm
India won pakistan #1 so called now #4
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Nov 30, 2016 02:28pm
I suggest to the PCB let's bring back Mohd. Asif and Salman Bhatt and win some matches (and throw away some). That way the LAW OF AVERAGES will be fulfilled. And if if things don't work we can always ask Mohd. Yousuf and Inzi bhai to don the Salwar Kamees and play cricket - Pakistan Zindabad
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Nov 30, 2016 05:32pm
The cause for the defeat is that the openers played for a draw when they could have gone for a win and the rest of the batsmen played for a win when they could have played for a draw.
R.S. Menon, Bangalore
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Dec 01, 2016 01:09am
Obviously, with Misbah unavailable, there had to be a vacuum in the team whose morale was already low with the loss in their first Test against NZ. The calming influence of Misbah was visibly absent aside from his reassuring batting that was so badly needed on the last day of this Test match. Now, with the series loss, Pakistan has to come up with a rebuilding program for this team which is primarily lacking the drive and hunger for victory against stronger teams. With Hafeez available as the sole off-spinning all-rounder, a restructuring of the middle order is imperative. Also, the fact that Younis Khan has not found his form so far could be considered as the key reason to bring Hafeez in the side. On the bowling front, Amir/Wahab must make way for Rahat Ali who is probably a better bowler in terms of producing 'dry' spells. Yasir needs to be rested for a stock bowler/allrounder like Imad Wasim, who could bat fairly well.
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