Pakistan vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 4: Black Caps level series despite Shafiq ton

New Zealand completed an innings and 80-run win over Pakistan in the third and final Test in Sharjah on Sunday, to level the three-match series 1-1.

Seamer Trent Boult took 4-38 and Mark Craig 3-109 which overshadowed Asad Shafiq's career-best 137 as Pakistan were dismissed for 259 in their second innings in the fading light at Sharjah stadium.

The win was more praiseworthy in a week when New Zealand were left grieving after Australian batsman Phillip Hughes's tragic death on Thursday, the day when both teams abandoned second day's play.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum admitted it was tough to play.

"It was definitely, really tough circumstances to play the Test," said McCullum. "Our thoughts were elsewhere. Proud of the guys for sticking together."

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq conceded the tragic news affected his team.

"After starting very well during the first day, whatever happened in the second day that was really difficult to concentrate. I was struggling to concentrate, it was really difficult to bat on and carry on."

Boult ended Shafiq's fighting 183-minute knock of 18 fours and six sixes - his fifth Test century - with a short delivery.

Craig wrapped up the innings by dismissing Rahat Ali for six to end with match figures of 10-203.

He took 7-94 in the first innings.

Boult struck three times in the space of 18 balls to leave Pakistan struggling at 24-3 before Craig and Sodhi (2-82) chipped in.

Pakistan won the first Test in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs while the second ended in a draw in Dubai.
Pakistan's batting failure was miserable on a pitch where New Zealand plundered 690.

Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed (37) tried to take the attack to the New Zealand bowlers with a 73-run stand for the sixth wicket before Sodhi removed Ahmed and Yasir Shah (ten) in the same over before tea.

Shafiq hit Craig for a six and a four to reach his hundred off 123 balls to delay the defeat after Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez (24) and Misbah (12) in the post lunch session.

Hafeez gave a return catch to Craig while Misbah was adjudged caught behind off the glove on the same bowler and even a referral couldn't save the Pakistan skipper.

Earlier, Boult had shaken Pakistan at the start of the innings, dismissing Shan Masood (four) in his second over, bowled Azhar Ali (six) in his fourth and trapped Younis Khan for a first ball duck in his fifth in a destructive spell.

Boult's devastating spell came after New Zealand extended their first innings to 690 in the morning - their highest-ever total in Test cricket.

That gave New Zealand a huge 339-run lead over Pakistan's first innings total of 351 and they pressed home their advantage quickly with Boult's strikes.

Masood drove uppishly to be caught in the slips while Ali misjudged a sharp incoming delivery which hit the off stump as he tried to leave the ball.

Boult again used the angle well from round the wicket to trap the in-form Younis leg-before. A review could not save the batsman.

New Zealand had added a further 53 earlier in the morning after resuming on 637-8, with Craig (65) becoming the sixth batsmen to reach a half-century -- a record number of 50-plus scores in one innings by Kiwis.

New Zealand's innings included a world record 22 sixes, beating the 17 struck by Australia against Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003.

In all, a world record of 35 sixes were hit in the match, beating the 27 shared by Pakistan and India in Faisalabad in 2006.

Pakistan's much-vaunted bowling attack suffered badly, with paceman Rahat Ali taking 4-99 and leg-spinner Yasir Shah conceding 193 runs for his four wickets.

New Zealand's previous highest Test total of 680-8 came against India in Wellington in February this year.

Both teams now play two Twenty20 internationals in Dubai on December 4 and 5 which will be followed by five one-day matches.

Scoreboard:

Pakistan 1st innings 351 (Mohammad Hafeez 197; M. Craig 7-94)

New Zealand 1st innings (overnight 637-8)

T. Latham c Ahmed b Rahat 13
B. McCullum b Shah  202
K. Williamson c Younis b Rahat 192
R. Taylor c Younis b Shah 50
C. Anderson c Shah b Rahat 50
D. Vettori lbw b Rahat  15
BJ Watling lbw b Hafeez  8
M. Craig c and b Hafeez  65
T. Southee c Talha b Shah 50
I. Sodhi c Younis b Shah 22
T. Boult not out  0
Extras: (b2, lb7, nb6, w8) 23
Total: (all out; 143.1 overs) 690
Fall of wicket: 1-51 (Latham), 2-348 (McCullum), 3-464 (Taylor), 4-488 (Williamson), 5-528 (Vettori), 6-537 (Anderson), 7-546 (Watling), 8-637 (Southee), 9-682 (Craig)
Bowling: Talha 22-2-136-0 (6nb, 1w), Rahat 29-2-99-4 (2w), Babar 23-1-135-0, Shah 44.1-4-193-4, Hafeez 23-2-110-2 (5w), Ali 2-0-8-0

Pakistan 2nd innings

Mohammad Hafeez c and b Craig 24
Shan Masood c Southee b Boult 4
Azhar Ali b Boult  6
Younis Khan lbw b Boult  0
Misbah-ul Haq c Watling b Craig 12
Asad Shafiq c Craig b Boult 137
Sarfraz Ahmed c Taylor b Sodhi 37
Yasir Shah lbw b Sodhi  10
Mohammad Talha lbw b Vettori 19
Rahat Ali c McCullum b Craig 6
Zulfiqar Babar not out  0
Extras: (lb2, 1nb, w1)  4
Total: (all out; 63.3 overs) 259
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Masood), 2-20 (Ali), 3-24 (Younis), 4-36 (Hafeez), 5-63 (Misbah), 6-136 (Ahmed), 7-146 (Shah), 8-180 (Talha), 9-258 (Rahat)
Bowling: Boult 15-6-38-4, Southee 11-3-20-0 (1w), Craig 20.3-2-109-3, Vettori 5-2-8-0, Sodhi 12-0-82-2

Result: New Zealand won by an innings and 80 runs, level series 1-1
Toss: Pakistan
Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS) and Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV umpire: Ranmore Martinesz (SRI)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

Note: Second day's play was suspended on Thursday to mourn the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

Lunch

New Zealand seamer Trent Boult took three wickets in 18 balls to leave Pakistan struggling at 30-3 at lunch on the fourth day of the third and final Test in Sharjah on Sunday.

Boult had opener Shan Masood (four) caught in his second over, bowled Azhar Ali (six) with a sharp incoming delivery in his fourth and then trapped Younis Khan for a first-ball duck in his fifth to bring New Zealand closer to a series-levelling win.

At the break Mohammad Hafeez was unbeaten on 18 and skipper Misbah-ul Haq was one not out, with Pakistan needing a further 309 to avoid an innings defeat.

Boult's devastating spell came after New Zealand extended their first innings to 690 in the morning - their highest-ever total in all Test cricket.

That gave New Zealand a huge 339-run lead over Pakistan's first innings total of 351 and they pressed home their advantage quickly with Boult's strikes.

Masood drove uppishly to be caught in the slips while Ali misjudged a sharp incoming delivery which hit the off stump as he tried to leave the ball.

Boult again used the angle well from round the wicket to trap the in-form Younis leg-before. A review could not save the batsman.

Lead

New Zealand were bowled out for 690 in their first innings on the fourth day of the third and final Test in Sharjah on Sunday.

Resuming at 637-8, New Zealand increased their lead to 339 following Pakistan's 351 in their first innings.

It was New Zealand's highest Test total, beating the 680-8 scored against India earlier this year, and puts them in a strong position to square the three-match series.

Pakistan won the first Test in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs while the second Test in Dubai was drawn.

Brendon McCullum plundered 202 off just 188 balls with 21 fours and 11 sixes, Kane Williamson made 192 and four other batsmen scored fifties in New Zealand's innings.

Paceman Rahat Ali finished with 4-99 while leg-spinner Yasir Shah took 4-193.

Scoreboard:

Pakistan 1st innings 351 (Mohammad Hafeez 197; M. Craig 7-94)

New Zealand 1st innings (overnight 637-8)
T. Latham c Ahmed b Rahat 13
B. McCullum b Shah 202
K. Williamson c Younis b Rahat 192
R. Taylor c Younis b Shah 50
C. Anderson c Shah b Rahat 50
D. Vettori lbw b Rahat 15
BJ Watling lbw b Hafeez 8
M. Craig c and b Hafeez 65
T. Southee c Talha b Shah 50
I. Sodhi c Younis b Shah 22
T. Boult not out 0
Extras: (b2, lb7, nb6, w8) 23
Total: (all out; 143.1 overs) 690
Fall of wicket: 1-51 (Latham), 2-348 (McCullum), 3-464 (Taylor), 4-488 (Williamson), 5-528 (Vettori), 6-537 (Anderson), 7-546 (Watling), 8-637 (Southee), 9-682 (Craig)
Bowling: Talha 22-2-136-0 (6nb, 1w), Rahat 29-2-99-4 (2w), Babar 23-1-135-0, Shah 44.1-4-193-4, Hafeez 23-2-110-2 (5w), Ali 2-0-8-0

Toss: Pakistan
Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS) and Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV umpire: Ranmore Martinesz (SRI)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Note: Second day's play was suspended on Thursday to mourn the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

 

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