Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 2nd Test: Day 4 Highlights, Scorecard, Report
Sarfraz Ahmed notched up his third ton of 2014 to help Pakistan in their bid to avoid defeat in the second Test with New Zealand.
Pakistan were tottering at 312 for 9 when Zulfiqar Babar departed, but Sarfraz and last man Rahat Ali took the side to within 10 runs of New Zealand’s first-innings total of 403.
"Sarfraz Ahmed's three 100s have come in last 5 Tests. He is in amazing form. Also batting superbly with tail. #PakvsNZ
— Mazher Arshad (@cricket_U) November 20, 2014"
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New Zealand went in search of quick runs in their second innings and moved to 167 for 6 at the close, but a result will be tough to force on the fifth day.
Sarfraz produced another superb effort with the bat, with his 112 taking him past Kamran Akmal to the top of the list of Pakistan wicketkeeper run-scorers in a calendar year.
"Sarfraz Ahmed century has also put Kamran Akmal chances on backfoot for comeback....
— Geo Super (@geosupertv) November 20, 2014"
It did not seem likely that Sarfraz would pass three figures, as Tim Southee and Trent Boult shared three quick wickets early in the morning session.
Zulfiqar hung around to aid Sarfraz, but it looked bleak for Pakistan when he edged Boult to wicketkeeper BJ Watling with the score on 312 for 9.
New Zealand sensed a sizable lead, but they had not counted on No. 11 Rahat showing great application. His 16 not out took up 49 balls and 105 valuable minutes.
It enabled Sarfraz to reach his century, but he departed on 112—becoming Brendon McCullum’s first Test victim—as Pakistan were bowled out for 393.
| Batsman | How out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| Shan Masood | b Sodhi | 13 | 52 | 48 |
| Taufeeq Umar | st †Watling b Craig | 16 | 63 | 42 |
| Azhar Ali | b Sodhi | 75 | 322 | 225 |
| Younis Khan | c Craig b Neesham | 72 | 195 | 160 |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | c Taylor b Boult | 28 | 74 | 55 |
| Asad Shafiq | c Taylor b Southee | 44 | 100 | 73 |
| Sarfraz Ahmed† | c & b McCullum | 112 | 215 | 195 |
| Yasir Shah | c †Watling b Southee | 2 | 17 | 20 |
| Ehsan Adil | lbw b Southee | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Zulfiqar Babar | c †Watling b Boult | 5 | 26 | 10 |
| Rahat Ali | not out | 16 | 105 | 49 |
| Extras | (b 7, lb 2, nb 1) | 10 | ||
| Total | (all out; 147 overs) | 393 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| TA Boult | 30 | 8 | 69 | 2 |
| TG Southee | 30 | 5 | 67 | 3 |
| MD Craig | 28 | 5 | 117 | 1 |
| IS Sodhi | 39 | 9 | 92 | 2 |
| CJ Anderson | 7 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| JDS Neesham | 11 | 2 | 12 | 1 |
| BB McCullum | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
McCullum's main string to his bow is with the bat, and he was in his element with the aim being to score rapid runs.
He hit 41 in the period before tea at just short of a run a ball, but he was prevented from cutting loose by Zulfiqar, who trapped him lbw for 45.
There was controversy in the 11th over, as Tom Latham was given out after being caught at leg gully off Yasir Shah.
The Kiwi batsman immediately asked for a review, and replays suggested the ball had missed his glove, but the third umpire seemingly felt there was not enough evidence to overturn the initial decision—meaning Latham had to go.
With Latham, McCullum and Kane Williamson gone, the responsibility of scoring at a decent rate fell on the shoulders of Ross Taylor.
The classy right-hander looked woefully out of form in his three innings of the series to date, but he looked far more confident and pushed New Zealand forward in the evening session.
Spin could play a part in the outcome, and this was highlighted by the spitting, turning delivery from Zulfiqar that accounted for James Neesham.
At that point, New Zealand were 125 for 5 and in danger of opening the door to Pakistan, but Taylor counter-attacked and took his side to a 177-run lead at the close, albeit with only four wickets remaining, as BJ Watling fell late on to another wicked, spinning ball from Yasir Shah.
| Batsman | How out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| TWM Latham | c Asad Shafiq b Yasir Shah | 9 | 49 | 35 |
| BB McCullum* | lbw b Zulfiqar Babar | 45 | 94 | 62 |
| KS Williamson | c Taufeeq Umar b Zulfiqar Babar | 11 | 30 | 26 |
| LRPL Taylor | not out | 77 | 93 | |
| CJ Anderson | b Yasir Shah | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| JDS Neesham | b Zulfiqar Babar | 11 | 55 | 26 |
| BJ Watling† | c Asad Shafiq b Yasir Shah | 11 | 54 | 43 |
| MD Craig | not out | 0 | 1 | |
| Extras | (lb 3) | 3 | ||
| Total | (6 wickets; 48.2 overs) | 167 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| Rahat Ali | 4 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Ehsan Adil | 5 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
| Zulfiqar Babar | 21.2 | 5 | 60 | 3 |
| Yasir Shah | 18 | 1 | 65 | 3 |
All three results are still possible, but a draw looks the most likely with 90 overs left in the game.
| Batsman | How out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| TWM Latham | c Asad Shafiq b Yasir Shah | 9 | 49 | 35 |
| BB McCullum* | lbw b Zulfiqar Babar | 45 | 94 | 62 |
| KS Williamson | c Taufeeq Umar b Zulfiqar Babar | 11 | 30 | 26 |
| LPRL Taylor | ||||
| CJ Anderson | b Yasir Shah | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| JDS Neesham | b Zulfiqar Babar | 11 | 55 | 26 |
| BJ Watling | c Asad Shafiq b Yasir Shah | 11 | 54 | 43 |
| MD Craig | ||||
| Extras | (lb 3) | 3 | ||
| Total | (6 wickets; 48.2 overs) | 167 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| Rahat Ali | 4 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Ehsan Adil | 5 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
| Zulfiqar Babar | 21.2 | 5 | 60 | 3 |
| Yasir Shah | 18 | 1 | 65 | 3 |
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