Pakistan skipper Babar Azam failed to score in the second innings of the first Test match against New Zealand. Many fans were expecting to see the same knock that he played in the first innings but he could not provide anything to his team as he got out after scoring only 14 runs.
However, Sarfaraz Khan’s entry recharged the innings. The 31-over session 1 of Day 5 brought about 104 runs. Michael Bracewell got Nauman Ali early, and Ish Sodhi’s first ball today removed Babar. Since then, Sarfaraz counterattacked to take Pakistan into the lead. He led to Ajaz Patel go down the leg but whenever he got a chance to score, he took it. Imam-ul-Haq was solid most of the time.
Pakistan were leading by 7 runs before lunch on Day 5 and the partnership between Sarfaraz and Imam took the team out of the woods. Another session of batting and this game will head towards a draw. Both the batters batted positively and took the runs on offer.
Will this match end in a draw?
On Day 1, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. With the help of Babar’s brilliant knock of 161 runs and Former captain Sarfaraz’s brilliance, the Men in Green achieved a total of 438 runs in the first innings. Both stitched a brilliant 196-run stand for the fifth wicket.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson finally came back to his good-old form on his return to Test cricket in Karachi. In the first against Pakistan, Williamson, coming in at No. 3, remained not out on 200 to take his side to 612/9. His 395-ball knock was laced with 21 fours and one six, while Ish Sodhi’s well-made 65 helped them recover from 436/6.
Williamson shared a 159-run stand with Sodhi that ground out Pakistan on the fourth day, earning them a 174-run lead before the declaration. Now, it will be interesting to see when will Pakistan declare and what target they set for the Kiwis or this match will have no results.
Here’s how fans reacted to Babar Azam:
Jab b team ko zarorat ho majal jo is ne khela ho captain lead kare na ab kahan bhag raha hai 😂😂#BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/uQ2jj238g0
— Farman Ali (@FarmanMarri04) December 30, 2022
When it comes to saving a test match or when you see an opportunity to take your team home , #BabarAzam always shits. 😂😂#SarfarazAhmed is a true captain.#PAKvNZ #Pakistan #NZvsPAK #Cricket #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/SpZRX0urap
— thelogical_Indian (@tlogical_Indian) December 30, 2022
Sarfaraz Ahmed to Babar Azam after comeback 😅..#SarfarazAhmed #BabarAzam#PAKvNZ #PAKvsNZ #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/Ks2fET8WdH
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) December 30, 2022
Chalu Bhai lead tu khatam hoee….
— Adnan Alavi (@adnanalavi) December 30, 2022
Well played @ImamUlHaq12 and @SarfarazA_54 #PakvsNZ
4s sarfraz nay maray lanat babar k fan k moun par pari #PakvsNz #PAKvNZ
— Ibrahim Mehdi (@Ibrahim24108548) December 30, 2022
5 mai aik to jeety na test mai aik player se match nhi jeeta ja sakhta
— Babar Khan (@itsbabar__) December 30, 2022
Literally i woke up and immi and nuaman ws playing….aur 15 mins k bad dekh tu bbar akr chal bhi gya 😭😭😭
— Mushaim Sheikh (@umaimaamir324) December 30, 2022
Babar🤣🤣🤣 Always failed when needed, Good against Zimbabwe, Pakistan play T20WC final with -0% contribution from Babar,
— Shafi Shehzad (@ShafiUOfficial) December 30, 2022
