New Zealand vs Pakistan: Fawad Alam scores his second Test century 4,188 days after his maiden ton

Fawad Alam, the Pakistan left-handed batsman, scored his second Test century against New Zealand at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Chasing 373 runs, the visitors were in dire straits, losing their openers Shan Masood and Abid Ali without a run on the board. Alam came to bat after Tim Southee picked up his second wicket in the form of Haris Sohail with Pakistan’s score at 37 for three.

But instead of going into his shell, Alam showed nerves of steel. When he came to bat, he had former captain Azhar Ali as his partner. But in the 40th over, Azhar perished to Trent Boult, who got his second wicket. With Pakistan four wickets down, Alam didn’t go into his shell. Rather, he showed nerves of steel and stitched together a partnership of 165 runs with Mohammad Rizwan.

Fawad Alam’s unfinished business for Pakistan

He took as many as 149 balls to get to his half-century after which he accomplished his century off 236 balls. Just when it seemed that he would carry Pakistan over the finishing line, Neil Wagner got rid of him. Alam’s knock was laced with 14 fours. The veteran got the apt support from Rizwan, who put his head down and racked up 60 runs off 191 balls with the help of six glorious fours.

4,188 days after a century on his Test debut in 2009, Pakistan's #FawadAlam scores his second Test century in his sixth Test at the end of 2020. #NZVPAK

What an incredible story! pic.twitter.com/uNrG8cCyxs

— The Field (@thefield_in) December 30, 2020

As far as Alam is concerned, it happened to be his second Test ton after a gap of as many as 4,188 days. Back in July 2009, Alam made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at the PSS in Colombo. In the first innings, he got out of Angelo Mathews after scoring only 16 runs. In the second, the then youngster smashed 168 runs off 259 balls and his knock was carved with 15 fours and one six.

To his dismay, his knock went in vain as the Lankans chased 171 in their fourth innings and won by seven wickets. Back in August, Alam played his fourth Test after a gap of 11 years. In his comeback Test against England at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, he bagged a duck. However, he has, well and truly, been able to make amends. Alam is nearing on 13,000 runs at the first-class level.