Sodhi got 6-86 and took steps to give New Zealand a triumph in the initial two meetings on the fifth and last day. Yet Pakistan battled on prior to proclaiming their second innings on 311-8
Pakistan fought off a fifth sequential loss at home with a hard-battled attract the primary Test in Karachi Friday notwithstanding vocational best bowling figures from New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.
Sodhi got 6-86 and took steps to give New Zealand a triumph in the initial two meetings on the fifth and last day. However, Pakistan battled on prior to proclaiming their second innings on 311-8. That set New Zealand a challenging target of 138 runs in 15 overs. The chase ended 61-1, with Devon Conway scoring 18 and Tom Latham remaining unbeaten on 35. For three, Michael Bracewell was the only wicket to fall.
Sodhi was the star, surpassing his previous best of 4-60 against Zimbabwe four years ago in Bulawayo.
The 30-year-old was playing his first Test in four years. Won the match with three wickets in the second session. This put New Zealand ahead of Pakistan, who were 249-7 at tea with 35 overs remaining. Mohammad Wasim (43) and Saud Shakeel (55). Who combined for 71 runs for the eighth wicket to deny New Zealand a victory, batted for 75 minutes and 111 balls.
After tea, Sodhi caught Wasim’s leg before his leg. But Mir Hamza (three not out) and Shakeel helped them put on 34 runs in 50 minutes. For the ninth wicket to frustrate the visitors even more.
After enduring defeats from Imam-ul-Haq (96) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (53), Shakeel went on to score seven boundaries and a six. Sodhi bowled out Sarfaraz, Haq, and Agha Salman (six) in the post-lunch session in just 27 balls, adding just 21 runs.
Before Sodhi struck, Haq and Sarfaraz had added 85 runs for the fifth wicket. Raising hopes that the home team could salvage a draw. He bowled Salman, caught Sarfaraz behind the stumps, and stumped Haq to leave Pakistan on 206-7. In his sixth half-century, Haq survived lbw referrals from the bowler on 58 and 74 and scored 10 boundaries and a six. While Sarfaraz hit the rope seven times.
So frustrated was he by his excusal, Haq crushed a seat with his bat en route to the changing area.
Pakistan’s nightwatchman Nauman Ali was injured in the leg before being trapped by spinner Bracewell when play resumed on 77-2. The captain Babar Azam, who had scored 161 runs in Pakistan’s first innings of 438, was then run out for 14 by Sodhi. On Monday, the second Test will begin at the same location.