Twitter Reaction
Twitter Reactions: New Zealand snatched a four-run win over Pakistan
By Sandy - Nov 19, 2018 5:11 pm
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In the nail-biting finish, New Zealand snatched a four-run victory against Pakistan in the first Test of three-match Test series at Abu Dhabi and took a 1-0 lead of the series.

Kiwi
New Zealand cricket team after winning the Test match

On the dramatic fourth day of the Test match, Pakistan just failed to win the Test while the debutant New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel’s five-wicket haul helped them to win the thrilling Test match.

Chasing down the 176-run target, Pakistan began the day on their overnight score 37/0. Soon under the first six overs of the day, Pakistan lost their three batsmen, including both the openers. After that, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq provided a very crucial partnership of 82-run for the fourth wicket that rescued them and was leading them towards the safe chase.

But everything was changed quickly after Shafiq was dismissed on 45 runs off 81 balls (4 fours) just before the lunch of the day.

Soon after the lunch break, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam had a huge misunderstanding in the running between the wickets that led to a run-out of Babar on 13 runs. After that, Pakistan regularly lost their wickets as none of the other batsmen managed to play the double-digit knocks. While the skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was caught behind for just 3 runs, the last four batsmen failed to open their accounts.

In the end, Azhar Ali fought hard and led Pakistan to the closure of victory. He played very patiently but just failed to secure that thrilling victory as finally the Kiwi hero Ajaz Patel trapped him for an lbw through a brilliant delivery and finished the game. Ali was dismissed on 65 runs off 136 balls (5 fours) while Pakistan was all-out on 171 runs with just five runs short from the target. From 130/3, Pakistan dramatically collapsed on 171 runs.

Among the New Zealand bowlers, Ajaz Patel had the bowling figure of 23.4-4-59-5 while Ish Sodhi (2/37) and Neil Wagner (2/27) both picked up two wickets each.

New Zealand
New Zealand players congratulating Ajaz Patel

Earlier in this match, New Zealand was bundled out on 153 runs in the first innings after choosing to bat first. In reply, Pakistan scored 227 runs with the 74-run lead. New Zealand managed to score 249 runs in their second innings before getting bundled out and set the target of 176 runs for Pakistan.

The debutant New Zealand cricketer Ajaz Patel won the Player of the Match award who took a total of seven wickets (2/64 & 5/59) in this game.

Here are some Twitter reactions: