Ish Sodhi’s Best In Vain As Pakistan Salvage Draw Against New Zealand In 1st Test | Cricket News

Pakistan staved off a fifth consecutive defeat at home with a hard-fought draw in the first Test in Karachi Friday despite career-best bowling figures from New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. Sodhi grabbed 6-86 and threatened to give New Zealand victory in the first two sessions on the fifth and final day, but Pakistan fought on before declaring their second innings on 311-8. That gave New Zealand a tough target of 138 to win in 15 overs, and the chase ended in fading light on 61-1, with Tom Latham unbeaten on 35 and Devon Conway 18.Michael Bracewell was the only wicket to fall for three.Sodhi was the star as he improved on his previous best of 4-60 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo four years ago.The 30-year-old, playing his first Test in four years, turned the match in New Zealand’s favour with three wickets in the second session to leave Pakistan on 249-7 at tea with 35 overs left in the match.But Saud Shakeel, who ended with 55 not out, and Mohammad Wasim (43) defied for 75 minutes and 111 balls during their 71-run eighth wicket stand to deprive New Zealand of a win.Soon after tea, Sodhi trapped Wasim leg-before, but Mir Hamza (three not out) assisted Shakeel in a ninth-wicket unbroken stand of 34 runs in 50 minutes to further frustrate the visitors.Shakeel, who hit seven boundaries and a six, built on after fighting knocks from Imam-ul-Haq (96) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (53) in the first two sessions.In the post-lunch session, Sodhi dismissed Sarfaraz, Agha Salman (six) and Haq in the space of 27 balls for the addition of just 21 runs.Haq and Sarfaraz had added a defiant 85 runs for the fifth wicket and raised hopes of salvaging a draw for the home team before Sodhi struck.He had Sarfaraz caught behind, bowled Salman, then got Haq stumped to leave Pakistan on 206-7.Haq, who survived lbw referrals off the bowler on 58 and 74, cracked 10 boundaries and a six in his sixth half-century, while Sarfaraz had seven hits to the rope.So incensed was he by his dismissal, Haq smashed a chair with his bat on the way to the dressing room.Resuming on 77-2, Pakistan lost nightwatchman Nauman Ali early, trapped leg-before by spinner Bracewell.Then skipper Babar Azam — who scored 161 in Pakistan’s first innings of 438 — was out the same way to Sodhi for 14.The second Test starts at the same venue on Monday.(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayKolkata’s Tribute To Messi; Rally Full Of White And Blue Takes Over CityTopics mentioned in this article



Source link