Sharjah: Azhar Ali, who set up the foundation for Pakistan’s good start in the third and final Test at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium through a 87-run partnership for the second wicket with Mohammad Hafeez, is delighted with his team’s batting performance.
“I am very glad the way we all batted. I think it is very important to have a big score when you win the toss and bat. So we have got a very good start and we want to capitalise on it. Hopefully tomorrow we continue this partnership [between Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq] which is going on very well and try and make it large and make a big score in the first innings.”
He regretted playing a poor shot and getting out when he was batting confidently on 39. “Though it is part of the game, sometimes we land up playing a shot which is not on. It was a loose shot and I accept that as part of the game. You cannot always play to perfection.”
Does he believe that the job is half done with Pakistan having won the toss and got off to a good start? “Definitely it is a good start and we really want to make it a big total. It’s a good track and so we want to bat as long as we can. We need to make at least 500 runs on this wicket. Our target is 500 and anything over will also be very good for us.”
When asked about Hafeez’s century, Azhar said: “I think he came back one day early [from England] and he was really focused for this game. The way he batted today showed how focused he was throughout his innings. He was composed all through and he really punished the bad ball as well.”
Does he believe that the wicket may turn helpful for spinners in due course? “The last 10 overs today with the new ball did help the seamers. I don’t think there was anything for the spinners. As the game goes on, the spinners may get a little bit more help out of it.”
New Zealand off spinner Mark Craig, who took two wickets, does not accept that it was heartbreaking to lose the toss. “It wasn’t heartbreaking at having lost the toss. It is part and parcel of cricket. Hafeez batted extremely well and he managed to soak in the pressure when we got the ball in the right areas and then he managed to get it away.”
Craig also commented on Daniel Vettori’s return to Test cricket. “He [Vettori] is awesome. There is an aura about him and it is nice he turned up and played a Test match with us and he is a quality player. I think it is great to have three spinners as boys can chop in with shorter spells and keep pressure for longer.”
How much of a total would he like to restrict Pakistan? “It is tough to set a total. It is now a matter of going out there tomorrow and play our roles and try and get wickets,” he said.
