Day one of Pakistan’s first Test against New Zealand was highlighted by Babar Azam’s eighth Test century and Sarfaraz Ahmed’s historic comeback performance, with the hosts recording 317 for 5 thanks to their 196-run fifth-wicket partnership.
The two joined forces when Pakistan was in a precarious position of 110 for 4 before lunch, but they batted nearly all the way through to stumps, managing to last for almost two entire sessions. While Babar’s unbroken 161 was the day’s high point and raised his Test average to beyond 50, Sarfaraz’s 86 in his maiden Test appearance in over four years and his first ever on home soil was also noteworthy.
However, Pakistan’s day had gotten off to a catastrophic start after they decided to bat. The early stumpings of Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique by Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell respectively marked the first occasion the first two wickets of a Test were taken via stumping.
Both became victims by running down the track as the new ball began to spin on the damp, fresh Karachi pitch. At the end of the first hour, Imam-ul-Haq was out for 24 and the score read 48 for 3, giving Pakistan the appearance of having lost the toss advantage.
Nevertheless, Babar and Saud Shakeel managed a 62-run stand to push Pakistan over the century mark. However, just one over before lunch, the latter was defeated for 22. The visitors had no idea that they would have to wait nearly five hours for their next opportunity to celebrate after the fourth wicket made the opening session completely theirs.
Apart from the run-out opportunity in the first over after lunch and the early life provided to Babar by Daryl Mitchell at first slip, the Pakistani skipper controlled the New Zealand bowlers throughout the course of his knock.
He took full advantage of a pitch that improved after a challenging first hour to get to his century, hitting a six over deep midwicket to reach the century mark. Babar played off the back foot and stayed in the crease for the majority of his innings, but when the degree of turn decreased, he appeared more confident and switched to the front foot.
Babar was able to depend on the pitch’s lack of flamboyant bounce, save for the rare ball that stayed low, and he and Sarfaraz dominated the second session. The sweep was particularly effective early on for Sarfaraz, who was playing his first Test since January 2019 and his first ever at home.
He used the technique against the spinners impressively even when someone like Patel managed to get the ball to turn away from him. Sarfaraz’s innings, though, was a little erratic. He either squared up by good-length deliveries that kept their line or got edges down to deep third when chasing wide seamer deliveries.