Ton-up Babar, returning Sarfraz help Pakistan gain foothold in first NZ Test

Mir Shabbar Ali Published December 27, 2022

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam sweeps during his unbeaten knock of 161 on the first day of the opening Test against New Zealand at the National Stadium.—Tahir Jamal/White Star

KARACHI: After seven days of chaos surrounding the Pakistan Cricket Board, the national side’s captain Babar Azam was back to business, so was his predecessor Sarfraz Ahmed.

While Babar added yet another hundred to his glittering record, Sarfraz played the supporting role in what was his first Test in nearly four years as both carried out a brilliant rescue effort after early jitters for Pakistan

The hosts were 317-5 by the close of play on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand here at the National Stadium on Monday with Babar playing at 161.

Sarfraz, however, lost his wicket late in the day after scoring 86 off 153 balls, ending a 196-run partnership with Babar.

“It was a very good partnership,” Sarfraz, who replaced Mohammad Rizwan, said after stumps. “I hope it ends up helping the team.”

As of now, it is safe to say that the collaboration between the former and current Pakistan captains brought the team back into the match.

The hosts were reeling at 48-3 just 15 overs into the innings after Babar had won the toss and opted to bat first on spin-friendly surface.

The hard new ball was responding well to the nature of the pitch and New Zealand put spinners into attack early and soon bore fruit when opener Abdullah Shafique was stumped off left-armer Ajaz Patel.

It was then off-spinner Michael Bracewell’s time to strike when first drop Shan Masood came down the wicket only to miss the ball and get stumped.

Abdullah’s opening partner Imam-ul-Haq seemed to rebuild with Babar on the other end before the left-hander became Brac—ewell’s second victim in a failed attempt to clear the field after adding 24.

It could have been over early for Babar too had Daryl Mitchell at slip had held on to a regulation catch off Bracewell as the batter edged one while playing at 12.

Pakistan were able to find some breathing space for themselves after Babar and Saud Shakil — who arrived after Imam’s dismissal — combined for 62 runs, only for the latter to fall at 22 off New Zealand captain Tim Southee, leaving the hosts at 110-4 just ahead of lunch.

By that point, Babar had already brought up his fifty as he kept finding the boundary, especially off the New Zealand spinners. He also survived a run out attempt at 54.

Post lunch, it was all about Babar and Sarfraz, who had opened his account with a four off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi on the penultimate ball before the break.

The 35-year-old then played the sweep shot to get another boundary, this time off Patel, showing signs of decent form.

As the ball softened, the New Zealanders struggled to use the pitch in their favour and Babar and Sarfraz kept scoring at nearly four runs per over.

DRS came into play to save Sarfraz when a caught behind decision by umpire Aleem Dar was overturned.

Three overs later, Babar brought up his century with a slog sweep for six off Bracewell.

The Pakistan captain took on the off-spinner for two more boundaries two overs later as the side finished the second session at 224-4.

Sarfraz reached his half-century with a double off Sodhi and celebrated it with a drive off the spinner before getting dismissed eventually as Patel forced an edge off his bat for Mitchell to take it safely this time.

“Babar made the most of his chance and batted really well,” Patel said

during the post-day press conference. “Obviously no one wants to drop catches but it happens sometimes, it’s just the nature of the game.”

Babar is now the highest run-scorer in Tests this year with 1,170 runs in nine outings. He also beat Mohammad Yousuf’s 2006 aggregate of 2,435 in all three formats, accumulating 2,584 runs across the board this year.

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN (first Innings):

Abdullah Shafique st Blundell b Patel 7

Imam-ul-Haq c Southee b Bracewell 24

Shan Masood st Blundell b Bracewell 3

Babar Azam not out 161

Saud Shakeel c Nicholls b Southee 22

Sarfraz Ahmed c Mitchell b Patel 86

Agha Salman not out 3

EXTRAS (B-3, LB-6, NB-2) 11

TOTAL (for five wickets; 90 overs) 317

STILL TO BAT: Nauman Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza