New Zealand celebrate after winning the third Test by an innings and 80 runs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
A stunning bowling display by New Zealand saw them not only demolish Pakistan by an innings and 80 runs on the fourth day of the third Test in Sharjah, but also end the series as a 1-1 draw.
Left-arm pace bowler Trent Boult inflicted the most damage with four wickets, while spinner Mark Craig took three.
However, Pakistan batsman Asad Shafiq deserves a lot of credit for his career-best knock of 137.
Starting out the day on 637/8, Craig and Ish Sodhi amassed a 45-run partnership, during which Craig brought up his half-century, before he was caught and bowled by Mohammad Hafeez for 65 off 85 balls, which included two boundaries and three sixes.
New Zealand ended up being bowled out for 690, which gave them a 339-run lead, when Sodhi was caught by Younis Khan at first slip off the bowling of Yasir Shah for 22.
Shah and Rahat Ali picked up four wickets apiece, while Hafeez chipped in with two.
Trailing by 339, Pakistan got off to an awful start as opening batsman Shan Masood was caught by Tim Southee at third slip off the bowling of Boult for four runs.
Azhar Ali fared no better as he was clean bowled by Boult for six runs.
Younis Khan failed to trouble the scorers as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Boult for a golden duck.
Khan reviewed the decision immediately, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and clipping leg stump. This led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.
Boult sliced through Pakistan’s top order with relative ease
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Mohammad Hafeez managed to make 22 runs before he was caught and bowled by Craig.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq only made 12 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Craig.
Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed stemmed the bleeding with a 73-run partnership, during which Shafiq registered his half-century, before Ahmed was brilliantly caught by Ross Taylor at first slip off the bowling of Sodhi for 37.
Sodhi struck again just four balls later when he trapped Yasir Shah lbw for 10 runs.
Mohammad Talha made 19 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Daniel Vettori.
Shafiq and Rahat Ali amassed a last-gasp 78-run partnership, during which Shafiq recorded his fifth Test century, before he was caught by Craig at deep midwicket off the bowling of Boult.
Shafiq’s career-best knock of 137 came off 148 balls and included 18 boundaries and six sixes.
Shafiq’s career-best knock of 137 went in vain
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
New Zealand’s celebrations began when Ali was caught by captain Brendon McCullum off the bowling of Craig for six runs.
Boult was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Craig snapped up three, Sodhi took two and Vettori claimed one.
Craig was named Man of the Match for taking 10 wickets and scoring 65 runs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Ul-Haq was gutted to have lost the match, and said: “After starting very well during the first day, whatever happened in the second day, it was really difficult to concentrate. I was struggling to concentrate, it was really difficult to bat on and carry on. The way we played Test cricket was really awesome. Only in this Test match, one bad day and we were totally out of it. Full credit to New Zealand, they outplayed us in the way they batted. You lose some focus, little loss in concentration and things happen and once the momentum goes, it is difficult to turn it back.
There are a lot of positives, especially in the bowling and batting department. In these two series the way everyone scored runs and got hundreds, today’s knock from Asad, that hundred was a big plus as well. It’s difficult to say anything at the moment, obviously I’ve been thinking about my future. A big event is coming up, I’m focussing on the World Cup and I’m really thinking about what to do after that. Lets see what I decide in the next couple of months.”
McCullum was ecstatic to have ended the series as a 1-1 draw, and said: “Definitely, really tough circumstances to play the Test. Our thoughts were elsewhere. Proud of the guys for sticking together. I think the tone was set with the way we bowled on the second morning. They were 280 for 3, we were behind and for us to take seven wickets for not a lot of runs [was brilliant].
“The circumstances in Australia made us go out there and try and enjoy whatever we could from the game. And it obviously gave us a huge chance to set the Test up. Not an easy place to tour, we watched the Aussie series keenly. We were destroyed in the first Test. We’re pleased to come back like this and hopefully we do well in the one-day series, especially with the world cup around the corner. I think it’s his [Vettori] last Test match, he said he could do more if his workload was like this. It’s great to have his family here, he’s been a great inspiration for us and we love him to bits.”
Craig was named Man of the Match, and said: “Big turnaround from the first Test. It was nice. I didn’t really think, it was hard being out there playing. The boys just tried to stick together and wickets just happened. Not thinking about bowling and just letting the ball go was a big help.”
Hafeez was named Man of the Series for scoring 418 runs, which included two centuries and a half-century, at an incredible average of 139.33. He also took four wickets at an average of 47.75.