14 wickets for Yasir as Pakistan level series versus NZ
DUBAI: Leg-spinner Yasir Shah followed his extraordinary first innings performance with a six wicket haul as Pakistan beat New Zealand by an innings and 16 runs in the second Test in Dubai on Tuesday to level the series 1-1. The 32-year-old, who took 8-41 on Monday, had figures of 6-143 in the second innings for a match haul of 14-184.
New Zealand -- following-on after being dismissed for 90 in the first innings -- were bowled out for 312 on the fourth day.
Yasir’s figures are the second best match return ever for Pakistan in Test cricket, bettered only by former captain and current prime minister Imran Khan who took 14-116 against Sri Lanka in Lahore in 1982.
They are also the best bowling figures against New Zealand. “I came to know yesterday (about Imran Khan’s record) so it’s an honour that my name will come with him,” said Yasir.
“I haven’t bowled as well as this, especially with the pitch offering turn and bounce like it did. We wanted to put the disappointment of the first Test behind us and set up the series.”
Medium-pacer Hasan Ali was also at his best, taking 3-46 as Pakistan gained a measure of revenge for losing the first Test by four runs in Abu Dhabi last week. Resuming on 131-2 and needing a further 197 to make Pakistan bat again, the New Zealand batsmen, led by Ross Taylor (82), Henry Nicholls (77) and Tom Latham (50), dug in to make things tough for the Pakistani bowlers.
Skipper Kane Williamson admitted that damage had been done in the first innings when New Zealand were bowled out for 90 runs. “We batted better in the second innings,” he said. The final Test starts in Abu Dhabi from Monday.
Brief scores: Pakistan 418/5d (Sohail 147, Azam 127; Grandhomme 2/44) beat New Zealand 90 (Raval 31; Yasir 8/41) & 312 (Taylor 82, Nicholls 77; Yasir 6/143) by innings and 16 runs.
Yasir Shah vs New Zealand (Dubai, 2018-19)
Courtney Walsh, West Indies (Wellington, 1994-95)
Ravichandran Ashwin, India (Indore, 2016-17)