Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Babar Azam's 161* Takes Pakistan To 317/5 At Stumps
PAK vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 1 highlights: Babar Azam stayed unbeaten on 161 while Sarfaraz Ahmed scored 86 as Pakistan reached 317/5 at stumps
PAK vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Pakistan were boosted by an unbeaten 161 by Babar Azam and a fighting 86 from Sarfaraz Ahmed as they reached 317/5 at stump on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand in Karachi. Babar Azam hit his ninth Test century to help Pakistan recover from the early blows. Earlier, Pakistan captain Babar had won the toss and opted to bat against New Zealand. During the toss, Babar confirmed that Sarfaraz Ahmed has replaced Mohammad Rizwan in the playing XI, while Mir Hamza, who was added to the squad prior to the first Test, also returns to the Test side, having made his debut in 2018. (SCORECARD)
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (capt), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Agha Salman, Nauman Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Mir Hamza, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee (capt), Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel
Here are the Highlights of Day 1 of the 1st Test Match between Pakistan and New Zealand straight from National Stadium, in Karachi:
Pakistan Cricket Team
New Zealand Cricket Team
Babar Azam
Tim Southee
PAK vs NZ, 1st Test Live
We are back for New Zealand's reply. The umpires and players are back on the field. Devon Conway and Tom Latham are the openers for New Zealand. Mir Hamza to bowl from this end. Here we go...
... SECOND INNINGS ...
The pitch is a good one for batting but as a batter, you need to spend some time in the middle. Against the new ball, it is going to be challenging and let's wait and watch how New Zealand approach their innings, especially against the Pakistan spinners. Stay tuned...
New Zealand were brilliant with the ball in the morning session on Day 1. But once the ball got soft, they fell flat and found it tough to maintain their hold on proceedings. Their performance once again shot up this morning as they bagged three wickets but struggled to polish off the tail after Lunch. All their frontline bowlers stuck to the task with Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell leaving a decent impact. Not to forget Tim Southee's contribution. The newly appointed full-time skipper picked the all-important wicket of Babar Azam and showed good control on an unsupportive pitch for the pace bowlers. He eventually finished with a 3-wicket haul.
To quickly summarize the first innings, it was a reckless batting show from the top order of Pakistan and the pair of Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed rescued them from a precarious situation through their 196-run stand. Babar, who was dropped on 12 by Daryl Mitchell, went on to complete his 9th Test hundred and continued his romance with the Karachi surface. He didn't last for long on Day 2 but the 54-run stand between Agha Salman and Nauman Ali kept the hosts in the hunt to cross the 400-run mark. The former then showed his skills to bat with the lower order and made sure that Pakistan reach a commanding total in the first innings.
Excellent fight shown by the lower order of Pakistan, led by Agha Salman's magnificent century. The hosts scored 61 runs at a brisk pace after Lunch and stretched their total close to 450.
OUT! That's plumb in front! Tim Southee fires in a length ball, around middle, at 131.6 kph, Agha Salman clears his front leg for a big swipe across the line but misses and is rapped on the back leg. They appeal and the finger has gone up. Salman takes the DRS but to no avail. No bat is involved and it's crashing onto the middle stump, confirms the Ball Tracking. Pakistan are all out for 438!
DRS time! Agha Salman has been adjudged lbw and he has decided to review the decision. Looks plumb.
Is that out?
Pitches it up and around off, Agha brings his bat down in time and keeps it out towards mid-wicket.
Fuller this time from Southee, outside off, Salman drives it to deep cover and keeps strike by denying the single.
Southee drops it on a good length around off, Agha is on the front foot as he blocks it down on the pitch.
Angles in a full ball on middle, Salman wrists it across the line but finds the fielder at mid-wicket.
Bowls it on off, Abrar Ahmed blocks it back towards the bowler.
Tossed up, slower through the air. Abrar Ahmed prods forward and defends it solidly.
Fuller and on middle, Agha Salman reads it well and gently sweeps it to backward square leg for one.
Another fuller one on off, Agha Salman eases it to the man at covers.
Sharp spin. Ajaz bowls it outside off, getting it to turn away, Agha Salman looks to defend it but misses.
Bowls it fuller and on off, Agha Salman lunges and defends it solidly.
Ajaz Patel comes back into the attack. 2 for 111 runs in his 35 overs so far.