Pakistan implode as Patel seals improbable win for New Zealand

ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed reacts to his inevitable dismissal as New Zealand wicket-keeper B.J. Watling prepares to take the catch off his miscued sweep shot during the first Test at the Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium on Monday.—AFP

ABU DHABI: Debutant spinner Ajaz Patel took five wickets to lead a never-say-die approach from New Zealand bowlers as they pulled off a thrilling four-run win over an indisciplined Pakistan in the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Defending a modest 176-run target, New Zealand bowlers led by slow left-armer Patel (5-59), fast bowler Neil Wagner (2-27) and Ish Sodhi (2-37) bowled out Pakistan for 171 on a drama-packed fourth day at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

It is the fifth smallest win in terms of runs in Test cricket history and gives New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

“The attitude, certainly today and throughout the game, was brilliant,” said New Zealand captain Kane Williamson who now has nine wins in his 18 Tests in charge. “How those two bowlers Ajaz and Wagner bowled, for almost 20 overs, and were brilliant. We knew the surface was not an easy one. There was considerable turn from day one and all the spinners bowled well.”

Azhar Ali fought a lone battle for Pakistan with 65 and was the last man out when he was trapped leg-before wicket by Patel. He reviewed Bruce Oxenford’s decision in vain but the television replays upheld the decision.

Resuming on 37 without loss, Pakistan began the day as favourites to chase down the 176 they needed for victory although New Zealand will have taken some hope from Pakistan’s failure at the same ground last year to chase 136 against Sri Lanka.

Kiwi spinners Patel and Ish Sodhi opened the bowling and immediately caused problems as Pakistan lost three wickets in the first six overs.

Imam-ul-Haq was trapped leg-before for 27 to a full length ball by left-arm spinner Patel in the fifth over. In the sixth, Sodhi had Mohammad Hafeez caught in the covers and then three balls later held on to a return catch low to his left as Haris Sohail drove a full toss back at him.

Pakistani nerves were eased by the sight of Azhar and Asad Shafiq carefully rebuilding the innings with a fourth wicket partnership of 82.

Asad made a cultured 45, becoming the 11th Pakistani to reach 4,000 runs in Test cricket, but his dismissal in the last over before lunch, edging Neil Wagner to wicket-keeper B.J. Watling, changed the game as Pakistan lost their final seven wickets for just 41.

After lunch, Babar Azam ran himself out for 13, the guilty party in a mix-up with Azhar and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed fell for a second time sweeping Patel, this time gloving the ball to Watling.

“We didn’t get a good start to the day,” said a demoralised Pakistan captain Sarfraz. “Azhar and Shafiq put in a good stand but then the collapse was really disappointing. You have to give credit to Ajaz as well.”

Bilal Asif tried to slog a straight ball from Patel and was bowled for a duck leaving Pakistan 154 for seven, still 22 runs short of victory.

The earlier measure at the crease had been replaced by chaos.

In the next over Wagner had Yasir Shah caught in the slips and then Hasan Ali attempted a slog-sweep off Patel, picking out substitute fielder Tim Southee on the midwicket boundary.

Azhar then tried to inch Pakistan across the line, farming the strike from Mohammad Abbas. But with five runs still needed to win Patel found the delivery to win the match for New Zealand. “My game plan was very simple, we as a unit believed we can do something special here and everything went our way,” said Patel, a 30-year-old left-arm spinner. “Lot of credit goes to the environment around us because we keep it very relaxed.”The second Test starts in Dubai from Saturday while the third and final, again in Abu Dhabi from Dec 3.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings) 153 (K.S. Williamson 63, H.M. Nicholls 28; Yasir Shah 3-54).

PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 227 (Babar Azam 62, Asad Shafiq 43; T.A. Boult 4-54).

NEW ZEALAND (2nd Innings) 249 (B.J. Watling 59, H.M. Nicholls 55; Hasan Ali 5-45, Yasir Shah 5-110).

PAKISTAN (2nd Innings, overnight 37-0):

Imam-ul-Haq lbw b Patel 27

M. Hafeez c de G’homme b Sodhi 10

Azhar Ali lbw b Patel 65

Haris Sohail c and b Sodhi 4

Asad Shafiq c Watling b Wagner 45

Babar Azam run out 13

Sarfraz Ahmed c Watling b Patel 3