Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 1: Highlights, Scorecard and Report
Pakistan picked up from where they left off against the Australians in their first Test with New Zealand on Sunday, as a sublime batting display put them firmly in command on Day 1.
Pakistan have enjoyed their time in the Middle East recently. Having emphatically disposed of the Aussies there last month, New Zealand are simply the latest side to face their wrath.
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The Kiwis simply couldn’t get it right on Sunday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, as Pakistan finished the day at 269-1 without really breaking a sweat, as the scorecard shows below:
| Batsmen | Dimissal | Runs | Balls | |
| Mohammad Hafeez | c&b Corey Anderson | 96 | 137 | |
| Ahmed Shehzad | NOT OUT | 126 | 290 | |
| Azhar Ali | NOT OUT | 46 | 114 | |
| Extras | 1nb | 1 | ||
| TOTAL | 90.0 overs, 1 wicket | 269 |
The opening duo of Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad set the tone for the rest of the day, with the pair romping to a 178-run stand—setting a new record, according to OptaJim:
"178 - Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez's stand of 178 is the highest for the first wicket for Pakistan against New Zealand. Platform.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) November 9, 2014"
Sitting on 178, 52 overs into the day, Pakistan dropped their only wicket, with Corey Anderson getting Hafeez caught and bowled for 96.
The Pakistan opener’s wait for his sixth career century goes on, but it was just a lack of concentration that cost him—probably through planning how to celebrate his 100.
From then on, though, it was the Pakistan show, with Shehzad picking up from where Hafeez left off. Azhar Ali proved the perfect partner in crime.
It took the former just 221 balls to complete his century—the third that he’s chalked up in Test cricket, per ICC—as he ditched the conservative style he’d adopted in the early exchanges:
Fourteen impressive fours tells the story of how Shehzad performed, and he’ll be back on 126 with a double-century looking a realistic prospect.
Ali romped to 46 with an impressive display of batting, too, but it wasn’t without a bit of luck.
Having fluffed a reverse sweep, Ali looked destined to make his way back to the pavilion, but BJ Watling made even more of a mess of the catch as the batsman went unpunished.
New Zealand now need immediate action, or the Test won’t just slip through their fingers, it will become embarrassing.
Pakistan proved against Australia that the surface suits their spinners’ styles, which means chasing an astronomical total could be an exercise in futility for the Black Caps.
However, captain Brendon McCullum said that while he appreciates that Pakistan will be tough to bat against, his side will prove more of a test to them than Australia did—per Cricbuzz:
"I think obviously Pakistan were excellent in their most recent series against Australia and thoroughly deserved their win. (Having said that) I think we have nice mix in the group with right and left option (in batting) which probably Australia didn't have in the middle against the spin and hopefully that's one of the factors that can help us combat their line up.
"
It’s very important, then, that New Zealand find a way to limit their opposition when play gets back underway, but if Pakistan continue in this vein of form, they could be out of sight by the end of Day 2.
Unless, that is, McCullum and Co. find a way to step up to the plate and deliver.
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