Deja vu for Black Caps in decider
Black Caps’ top order crumbles as Yasir Shah strikes again for Pakistan
The Black Caps had made significant changes for the third and deciding test against Pakistan, but what unfolded was remarkably familiar. With two changes to their starting XI, and talk of improving their method of facing Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah, hopes were high that the visitors could bounce back from the crushing defeat inflicted in the second test.
However, the initial results were the same, with Shah taking three wickets in three overs to spark yet another ill-timed Black Caps batting collapse.
From 70-1, the Black Caps tumbled to 72-4, with Shah once again sending Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls back to the pavilion.
In an uncanny repeat of the Dubai test, captain Kane Williamson was left watching at the non-strikers end as his teammates came and went, and was left to rebuild the innings.
He made a good start — bringing up another 50 — but at 121-4 before tea, the Black Caps were still in an unfavourable position, especially after they had won the toss and decided to bat in Abu Dhabi.
It would have been an easy decision for Williamson to make — in the last 12 tests in the United Arab Emirates, the team winning the toss had lost just once. However, he wouldn’t have been pleased to be striding out to the crease early again, after 18-year-old Pakistan debutant Shaheen Afridi struck.
His first test victim was Tom Latham, with an inswinger striking the opener on the pads, and the resulting lbw review sending him on his way for just four.
Afridi’s inswing also had fellow opener Raval playing some false strokes, but Raval looked to be aggressive against seamer Hasan Ali, playing attacking shots and looking more comfortable in reaching 45.
However, his innings turned out to be a microcosm of his entire year. After making a solid start, Raval couldn’t push on, with his 45 marking the ninth straight innings he has failed to reach 50 — a stretch of almost a year.
Shah was the man to claim his wicket — trapping him lbw — and the next ball he sent Taylor packing. It was one fewer ball than he faced in the first innings of the second test, and again he was possibly unlucky, with Shah’s delivery shooting through low, and the crease-bound Taylor unable to jam his bat down in time.
The scenes gave flashbacks of Shah’s triple wicket maiden, and
while this time it was “merely” a double-wicket maiden, he picked up his third prize shortly after.
Nicholls, who has had a boom or bust series, went to sweep a legside delivery from Shah, but could only watch on in horror as he succeeded in gloving the ball onto his stumps.
The Black Caps’ hopes of ending their 49-year drought without an
away test series victory over Pakistan were in serious trouble, and possibly left coach Gary Stead wondering whether he should have added an extra batsman to the side, instead of the two bowling changes he opted for.
The most notable change was the debut of off-spinner Will Somerville. The 34-year-old was an accountant in Sydney just five years ago, but got his
chance in place of the erratic Ish Sodhi, who had struggled to find his line and length throughout the first two tests.
Somerville will need to take his chance in favourable conditions, because with the Black Caps unlikely to play two spinners in home tests, and Todd Astle and Mitchell Santner nearing returns from injury, his op-
portunities could be non-existent the rest of the season.
The other change saw Tim Southee replace Neil Wagner, after Wagner bowled for 37 overs without success in the second test. Southee, who took 6-62 in his last test, against England earlier this year, has a chance to prove he is no spent force as test level, and should offer some seam movement with the new ball.
That meant that Colin de Grandhomme received a reprieve, despite his poor recent form with the bat. However, with Williamson and BJ Watling the last specialist batsmen remaining, de Grandhomme will need to deliver — both for his test future, and the Black Caps’ hopes of victory.