Dubai: Sarfraz Ahmad’s heroics and his team’s spinners have set the stage for an exciting finish to the second Test match at the Dubai International Stadium. The Test is tantalisingly poised, with New Zealand ahead by 177 runs after losing six wickets on the fourth day in which Pakistan dominated the show.
New Zealand’s Ross Taylor lit up his team’s hopes too for a fighting total through an unbeaten 77 runs. He scored his 23rd Test half-century and lifted New Zealand out of trouble from 79 for four to 167 for six by close. It can be anybody’s game on the final day on Friday on a fast deteriorating wicket. The final day’s contest will put to test not only the players’ skills but also their fighting spirt like what Sarfraz displayed on the fourth day. He stood like a colossus against New Zealand’s attack and ensured that Pakistan surrenders only an insignificant 10-run lead. This diminutive wicketkeeper batsman not only exhibited his fierce fighting qualities but also a maturity much beyond his age and Test cricket experience.
Playing in only his 12th Test, Sarfraz notched up his third century which will sparkle forever among his best centuries due to the circumstances and pressure under which he scored it.
Though Sarfraz’s knock will be recorded as only 112 runs off 195 balls with 16 boundaries, he could have scored well above 150 runs. He had to refuse many singles to protect last man Rahat Ali with whom he record a stunning 81 runs partnership for the last wicket. Rahat’s contribution to the partnership was a mere unbeaten 16 runs.
27-year-old Sarfraz, who lost all his partners, was left with only last man Rahat as company and Pakistan were still 91 runs behind the total. This superlative knock fetched him many records too. He became the first wicket keeper from his country to make three Test centuries in a calendar year and broke his compatriot Kamran Akmal’s record for most runs scored by a Pakistan wicket keeper in a calendar year.
Pakistan who began the day at 281 for six, still trailing by 122 runs lost three wickets in the first ten overs. It lit up hopes for a huge first innings lead for New Zealand. Sarfraz not only gave Kiwis an uncomfortable lunch by batting till two overs after lunch but also diluting their lead with every over.
None expected Pakistan to reach anywhere near the New Zealand total after Tim Southee had Yasir Shah caught behind with the last ball of the third over of the day. Southee also removed next man Ehsan Adil for a duck by trapping him leg before. Zulfiqar Babar lasted ten balls before edging Trent Boult to wicketkeeper for 5.
Some of the shots that Sarfraz played to dominate New Zealand bowlers were a treat to watch. In one over Sarfraz hit Boult past mid-on with superb timing and cut him elegantly past gully and backward point for another boundary. Sarfraz also fearlessly stepped out to hit Mark Craig over the bowlers head, he also followed it up with a cracking shot to midwicket and sweep to square leg boundary in the same over. He did not spare Sodhi too picking three boundaries in one over, the first being his favourite sweep shot and another shot through the covers moving towards the leg and picking the gap beautifully and the third one over the covers to race to his nineties.
Sarfraz reached his century hitting Southee past gully to get a standing ovation from his team. After Sarfraz reached his ton Rahat hit Sodhi over the umpire’s head and over mid-on for two boundaries in one over.
Sarfraz finally fell offering a return catch to skipper to Brendon McCullum. The catch even surprised McCullum who got his first Test wicket in his 89th Test match.
