Not for the first time in international cricket, Pakistan’s batting line-up committed a last-minute kamikaze attack against New Zealand in the first Test match of the series…
At 130-3, Pakistan were cruising to victory against New Zealand. Needing just under 50 runs to win with seven wickets remaining and two batsmen set at the crease, a win seemed inevitable. However, the events that followed were extremely shocking – regardless of the entrainment value they added. Azhar Ali first threw Babar Azam under the bus in a silly run-out and Ajaz Patel then ripped into the Pakistan middle-order with a sensational spell of spin bowling.
The game was still in Pakistan’s hands as they needed just one solid partnership to get through and New Zealand were forced to play on the offensive. Lo and behold, the Pakistani batsmen pulled off one inexplicable shot after another to further sink the boat. Hasan Ali and Bilal Asif played some horrendous shots in particular when all they were required to do was stay at the crease and rotate the strike with Azhar Ali. On a pitch like that, it was imperative to get an eye in first and play your shots only after adjusting to the turn and bounce. The bowling was hardly unplayable and the Pakistani batsmen did themselves no favours by playing reckless shots.
"One of the worst defeats I have ever suffered in my career" – Mickey Arthur after Pakistan slumped to a four-run loss to New Zealand in the first Test.#PAKvNZ REACTION ⬇️https://t.co/IvBN86wIkG pic.twitter.com/wpLlqA7mO3
— ICC (@ICC) November 21, 2018
That being said, we mustn’t take any credit away from New Zealand. The Kiwis bowled their heart out and refused to give up even after things looked bleak at lunch on the fourth day. Ajaz Patel and Wagner were the pick of the bowlers as they showed no signs of fatigue through the overs. Kane Williamson also got his tactics spot-on, especially during the last-wicket partnership between Azhar Ali and Mohammed Abbas. Azhar All cut the target from 12 to 5 runs by taking a single every over, but Williamson kept his patience and didn’t give Azhar breathing space for a boundary. The captain was rewarded for this as Azhar Ali finally faltered and was given out LBW to seal the match for New Zealand.
New Zealand have every right to be ecstatic with their performance. After conceding a lead in the first innings, the Kiwis still managed to win the game and will be feeling confident heading into the next match. The Pakistani players, on the other hand, will be shattered by the collapse. They had the game in their pocket and threw it away when they should have won comfortably. Games like these, especially on home turf, need to be won at all costs. Nonetheless, it’ll add to the learning curve for a talented but slightly inexperienced side which needs to be mentally strong when the going gets tough.
"Pakistan are a good team, hard to beat over here. That's what makes this really, really pleasing. But they'll be better for it, and if they were taking us lightly, they won't be now." – Gary Stead #PAKvNZhttps://t.co/BUDLYK72I3
— Cricingif (@_cricingif) November 22, 2018
Even after a couple of wickets were lost, the middle-order should have come in and played sensibly instead of getting reeled in by the bait set by New Zealand’s bowlers. It’s all to play for in the next match now, and it’ll be interesting to see how much the first game affects both sets of players. For Test cricket, the match was a great advert; an edge-of-the-the seat thriller which went down to the wire. It further reinforces the format’s reputation as cricket’s best given its comprehensive testing of all skills – both mental and physical.