Twitter Reactions: Pakistan meander along at snail’s pace in Dubai

After the heartbreak in Abu Dhabi against New Zealand in the first Test, Pakistan would’ve been shattered. In the second Test in Dubai, Sarfraz Ahmed and Co played with utmost caution and ended the first day’s play with the score at 207 for the loss of four wickets. On the other hand, the Black Caps would be satisfied for the reason that they didn’t allow the Pakistani batsmen get away easily.

Azhar and Sohail dominate

The home team won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first, but the start wasn’t great for them by any means. Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammed Hafeez played out seven overs and looked determined to survive the initial burst from Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme. However, both perished in quick succession as Grandhomme was able to dismiss both the batsmen in single digits.

Thereafter, Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail put their heads down to resurrect the innings. Both played out 18 overs before Lunch and Pakistan ended the session with 56/2. Both players carried on the good work in the second session as well. In the meantime, Azhar accomplished a patient half-century and with Sohail accompanying him at 37, Pakistan went into Tea with the score at 124/2 in 59 overs.

Sohail holds fort  

The final session started on an impressive note for the hosts as Azhar and Sohail didn’t play a single shot out of anger. Sohail also went on to rack up a fifty. Just when it seemed as if Sarfraz’s men would end the day without any hiccup, Azhar succumbed to a run-out courtesy of a mix-up with Sohail. He went after scoring 81 runs from 187 balls and the Kiwis would’ve breathed a sigh of relief.

The dismissal also brought an end to a 126-run stand. Asad Shafiq was the fourth wicket to fall and he became left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel’s first victim. It was then up to Sohail and Babar Azam to end Pakistan’s day without any more wicket and they did so with an unbeaten stand of 33 from 54 deliveries. Sohail remained not out on 81 from 240 balls with 10 boundaries with Babar on 14 runs.

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