Incredible NZ win

ABU Dhabi: New Zealand pulled off the most unlikely of victories against Pakistan in the first test in Abu Dhabi last night.

The hero of the day was debutant leftarm spinner Ajaz Patel, who took five for 59 to bowl Pakistan out for 171, four runs short of its target.

Perhaps the most important wicket he will ever take was that of Azhar Ali, who had batted for most of the innings and appeared to be taking Pakistan to victory.

But Azhar was lbw to Patel for 65, last man out, with Azhar’s review unsuccessful.

Earlier Pakistan had seemingly regained control after an early collapse on day four to be 130 for three,needing a seemingly easytoget 46 further runs to win the test against New Zealand inside four days.

But Patel and seamer Neil Wagner had other ideas.

Wagner dismissed set batsman Asad Shafiq on the stroke of lunch for 45, a crucial wicket.

The home team had lost three wickets inside eight balls and slipped to 48 for three before Asad Shafiq (45) and Azhar Ali (40 not out) raised a halfcentury stand.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson’s early use of the spinners worked well as rookie spinner Patel bowled two consecutive maiden overs before having overnight batsman ImamulHaq (27) lbw off a delivery which turned sharply into the lefthander and caught the batsman on the backfoot.

Mohammad Hafeez (10) then lobbed a gentle catch to cover in Sodhi’s next over before the tall legspinner bent down low to take a return catch from Haris Sohail (4).

Shafiq and Azhar then took the pressure off by rotating the strike frequently with singles and twos while waiting for the loose deliveries to get boundaries.

Shafiq, playing in his 64th test match, reached a milestone when he was on 24 as he completed 4000 runs in test cricket.

Azhar showed aggression in a bid to regain his batting form, hitting four boundaries in his 64ball unbeaten knock that included a reverseswept four off Patel.

But Patel had the last laugh with his stunning performance.