PAK vs NZ: Pakistan hold New Zealand for a draw on the thrilling final day in Karachi

Pakistan started the final day under pressure, as they had lost two wickets on the fourth day and had a target of 319 runs to chase on the final day against New Zealand. After a scary first session, they dominated the show with the bat in the second and third sessions. Towards the end, Pakistan survived a loss as bad light led to the game ending in a draw.

Imam-ul-Haq started Pakistan’s proceedings on the final day alongside Shan Masood. Imam notched up two boundaries in the very first over of the day, and Masood followed him soon as the duo kept finding the gaps at regular intervals. They looked in great touch, but Ish Sodhi spoiled the party by dismissing Imam, handing Pakistan a major blow.

Skipper Babar Azam too started off well, and timed his shots to perfection but had to walk back scoring a 41-ball 27 after Michael Bracewell dismissed him. The Kiwi all-rounder struck again in his next over and sent Shan Masood packing. The visitors did well in the first session, but the in-form Sarfaraz Ahmed was eying a victory and looked very determined.

The second session was completely dominated by Pakistani batters Sarfaraz and Saud Shakeel. New Zealand bowlers failed to pick a single wicket in the session and the two batters build up the innings slowly and steadily. The batters showed great resilience and set the path straight for the final session. It was then a Sarfaraz Ahmed show completely till the end.

Bracewell dismissed Shakeel in the last session, but Sarfaraz was unstoppable. He kept his good form going, and after missing out on a century twice this series, he finally managed to reach the milestone. The former Pakistan skipper claimed his fourth Test ton, and scored a major chunk of runs at the time when it was required the most.

Matt Henry dismissed Agha Salman to add trouble to Pakistan’s innings, and taking the new ball did wonders for the visitors as Tim Southee sent Hasan Ali packing immediately. The game went down the wire after the eighth wicket as Pakistan needed 37 runs to win in the final 30 minutes, and New Zealand needed to pick two wickets to win the game.

New Zealand set the field brilliantly, yet again and a brilliant catch by Kane Williamson at leg-slip off Bracewell’s delivery put an end to Sarfaraz’s spectacular innings. Notably, the wicketkeeper-batter walked off scoring his highest-ever Test score of 118(176).  The game became even more intense when Pakistan needed 31 runs to win and New Zealand needed one last wicket to win in the last six overs.

Naseem Shah racked up two sixes off Bracewell's over towards the end, which brought the equation down to 15 runs off the final 3 overs. But bad light led to the umpires calling it a day and the match, as well as the series, ended in a draw. This game marked the second instance of Pakistan managing to end a game in a draw with one wicket in hand.

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