1. Pakistan vs New Zealand at Abu Dhabi (16-20 November) – New Zealand won by 4 runs

It was the series opener of the three-match Test series that was played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi). New Zealand decided to bat first after winning the toss but they were bundled out for just 153 runs. Apart from the skipper Kane Williamson (63 runs), none of the other batsmen reached the 30-run marks in that innings.

In reply, Pakistan scored 227 runs before they were all out. While the New Zealand pacer Trent Boult picked up four wickets (4/54) in that innings, Babar Azam (62 runs) scored the highest runs in that innings.

New Zealand started their second innings by trailing 74 runs and managed to score 249 runs before getting all out once again. This time, the Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali (5/45) and the leg-spinner Yasir Shah (5/110) both claimed the five-wicket hauls. Among the New Zealand batsmen, Henry Nicholls (55) and BJ Watling (59) played the half-century knocks.

Chasing down the 176 runs target, Pakistan was once batting on 130/3 but they were bundled out for just 171 runs and lost the game by just four runs. While Azhar Ali (65 runs) fought impressively till the end of the game but the debutant New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel just secured a thrilling victory with the bowling figure of 23.4-4-59-5. Patel took seven wickets in that entire game and won the Player of the Match award while New Zealand took the 1-0 lead of that series.