Pakistan survived an unexpected top-order collapse to draw the second test with New Zealand after being set a tricky target of 261 in 72 overs on the last day Friday.
Trent Boult’s (2-12) twin strikes left Pakistan reeling at 75-4 before top-scorer Younis Khan (44) and Asad Shafiq (41 not out) combined for 74 runs to help guide their team to a safe 196-5 with five overs unused. “They (New Zealand) have improved a lot from the last game and put us really under pressure,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said.
“We were planning to chase it down and bat normally up to 40-45 overs, but we lost three wickets in two-three overs, and that changed the whole scenario.”
Earlier, Kiwis captain Brendon McCullum made a bold declaration at 250-9 for an overall lead of 260 runs, with Ross Taylor scoring a brilliant 104.
legspinner Yasir Shah (5-79), who had Taylor stumped, bagged his first five-wicket haul, while left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar took 4-96. “It was a right result for both teams, and credit to Pakistan for the way they fought it out,” McCullum said.
Pakistan kept its 1-0 lead intact after the 248-run win last week, with the last test set for Sharjah next Wednesday.
Offspinner Mark Craig triggered a Pakistan collapse when Azhar Ali was out for 24 hitting a full toss straight to cover after putting on 62 runs with Shan Masood, 40.
Boult had Masood lbw off a vicious yorker, and in his next over captain Misbah-ul-Haq was caught behind for a rare nought in recent times, as Pakistan slipped to 75-4.
Khan and Shafiq then defied the Kiwis’ bid for victory in the last session with a gritty half century stand before Khan fended Craig’s short delivery to the slips. The dismissal raised New Zealand hopes, but not for long.
“The toss was really important,” McCullum said. “We followed the blueprint that Pakistan have been using ... which allowed us to be in a position from where we could have won the test match.”
Earlier, Taylor returned to form after scores of 0, 8 and 23 to make 104 off 133 balls, his first test century of the year.
Brief Scores
New Zealand: 403 & 250/9 decl (Ross Taylor 104; Yasir Shah 5/79, Zulfiqar Babar 4/96) draw with Pakistan: 393 and 196/5 (Younis Khan 44, Shan Masood 40; Trent Boult 2/12).