Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Babar Azam's 161* Takes Pakistan To 317/5 At Stumps
PAK vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 1 highlights: Babar Azam stayed unbeaten on 161 while Sarfaraz Ahmed scored 86 as Pakistan reached 317/5 at stumps
PAK vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 1 Highlights: Pakistan were boosted by an unbeaten 161 by Babar Azam and a fighting 86 from Sarfaraz Ahmed as they reached 317/5 at stump on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand in Karachi. Babar Azam hit his ninth Test century to help Pakistan recover from the early blows. Earlier, Pakistan captain Babar had won the toss and opted to bat against New Zealand. During the toss, Babar confirmed that Sarfaraz Ahmed has replaced Mohammad Rizwan in the playing XI, while Mir Hamza, who was added to the squad prior to the first Test, also returns to the Test side, having made his debut in 2018. (SCORECARD)
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (capt), 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, Tim Southee (capt), Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel
Pakistan Cricket Team
New Zealand Cricket Team
Babar Azam
Tim Southee
PAK vs NZ, 1st Test Live
Just like food and Karachi never go wrong, Babar Azam and Karachi also never go wrong. He just fancies batting at this venue and completed his third Test century here. The skipper stood tall when the going was tough and after surviving a dropped catch on 12, he never looked back. His batting on the back foot was a masterclass as he dealt with the Kiwi spinners and those timely use of the feet helped him in keeping the likes of Ajaz Patel, Michael Bracewell and Ish Sodhi at bay. Babar's knock has pulled Pakistan out of misery and now they have a good foundation to reach a score of 400-plus. A word of praise for Sarfaraz Ahmed who returned to Test cricket and played a critical role in the 196-run stand with his skipper. He was unlucky to miss out on a well-deserved century.
It's a pitch conducive for spin bowling but the early signs are that you can get that help only when the ball is nice and hard. New Zealand were roaring in the morning but then fell flat once the ball got soft. They toiled hard but without any success as Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed took the sting out of their attack.
End of a very eventful day! New Zealand bossed the morning session by picking four wickets but failed to drive home the advantage. Pakistan fought back in the afternoon through the century partnership between Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed and brought sanity to their camp. The last session turned out to be quite dull in the first half but then the second new ball brought success for New Zealand as Ajaz Patel removed Sarfaraz Ahmed late in the day.
Loopy delivery, pitching full and on middle, Azam defends it with a straight bat to end the over. STUMPS ON DAY 1!
A low full toss this time, around off, Salman drives it back to the bowler who fails to stop it and they cross for a run. Babar on strike for the last ball...
Flighted delivery, landing full and outside off, Salman defends it with an angled bat to point.
Very full and on off, Babar forces it down to long on for a single.
Floated and full around off, Azam defends it off the front foot.
GIVEN LBW! Babar Azam reviews the decision. Drama late in the day. Ajaz Patel serves a full ball around leg and gets it to spin away sharply. Babar Azam leans forward and tries to defend the line but it spins past his bat and strikes him high on the back leg. They appeal and the finger goes up. Nothing on the UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows that it's heading over the stumps. The on-field decision is overturned and Babar survives much to the delight of the Karachi crowd.
Last over of the day coming up...
Quicker one on off, Salman defends it back towards the bowler.
Identical to the last delivery, again Salman draws forward in defense.
Loopy and full on off, defended off the front foot.
Full toss on off, Salman drives but it hits the fielder at silly point and stays there.
Serves it full and wide outside off, Salman tries to defend the line but it takes the outside edge and rolls down to third man. They get a couple of runs.
Bowls it full and on off, Babar knocks it down to long on for a run.
Loopy and full around leg, Salman plants his front foot forward and defends it nicely.
And again. Another arm ball has been defended from the inner portion of the bat by Agha Salman.
Skidding into the batter from around middle, Salman leans forward to defend and does so from the inside half of his blade.
Leans forward and defends a full ball back to the bowler.