1st Test between Pakistan and New Zealand ends in draw due to bad light

The first Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand ended in a draw due to bad light. Despite both teams putting up a strong performance, the match was unable to be completed due to poor visibility on the field. The draw marks the end of an exciting and closely contested match between the two teams.

Match Summary

Pakistan 438/10 (130.5 ov) & 311/8d (103.5 ov)

New Zealand 612/9d (194.5 ov) & 61/1 (7.3 ov)

Match Drawn

SCORECARD

New Zealand seemed the stronger team throughout the Test match. However, if Ajaz Patel had successfully caught the throw at the non-striker's end in the final session, or if Michael Bracewell had managed to catch the skier at square leg in the same session, it could have led to a win for New Zealand, with Tim Southee as the captain.

Saud Shakeel deserves recognition for his impressive half-century and with the help of Mohammad Wasim and Mir Hamza's contributions with the bat, Pakistan was able to increase their lead to 137.

However, the Pakistan captain's decision to declare the innings at that point came as a surprise, leaving the Blackcaps with a challenging target of 138 runs to win in just 15 overs. This bold move carried the risk of potentially not paying off.

Match Stats

Pakistan Ist Innings Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Abdullah Shafique - 3.3 ov), 2-19 (Shan Masood - 6.1 ov), 3-48 (Imam ul Haq - 14.6 ov), 4-110 (Saud Shakeel - 28.6 ov), 5-306 (Sarfaraz Ahmed - 85.3 ov), 6-318 (Babar Azam - 90.4 ov), 7-372 (Nauman Ali - 116.5 ov), 8-375 (Mohammad Wasim - 117.6 ov), 9-414 (Mir Hamza - 125.6 ov), 10-438 (Agha Salman - 130.5 ov)

New Zealand Ist Innings Fall of wickets: 1-183 (Devon Conway - 52.6 ov), 2-231 (Tom Latham - 69.5 ov), 3-272 (Henry Nicholls - 80.2 ov), 4-337 (Daryl Mitchell - 94.4 ov), 5-427 (Tom Blundell - 126.6 ov), 6-436 (Michael Bracewell - 131.5 ov), 7-595 (Ish Sodhi - 186.3 ov), 8-596 (Tim Southee - 187.3 ov), 9-597 (Neil Wagner - 188.6 ov)

Pakistan 2^nd Innings Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Abdullah Shafique - 19.5 ov), 2-71 (Shan Masood - 28.4 ov), 3-82 (Nauman Ali - 33.3 ov), 4-100 (Babar Azam - 39.1 ov), 5-185 (Sarfaraz Ahmed - 63.3 ov), 6-205 (Agha Salman - 69.1 ov), 7-206 (Imam ul Haq - 71.5 ov), 8-277 (Mohammad Wasim - 90.2 ov)

New Zealand 2nd Innings Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Michael Bracewell - 0.6 ov)

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), Agha Salman, Nauman Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Mir Hamza, Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (C), Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel

Match Details:

Date: Monday, December 26, 2022 05:00

Venue: National Stadium, Karachi

Toss: Pakistan won the toss & elected to bat