A defiant fifth-wicket stand of 74 between Younus Khan and Asad Shafiq ensured Pakistan secured a draw in the second Test against New Zealand yesterday to maintain a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing 261 for victory, Pakistan were 196-5 when the teams agreed to a draw in fading light, with Shafiq (41) and first-innings centurion Sarfraz Ahmed (24) unbeaten at the crease.
Younus (44) fell late in the last session to off-spinner Mark Craig, but had steadied the ship after a mini-collapse threatened to swing the match New Zealand’s way.
Photo: AFP
Pakistan were comfortably placed at 70-1, but were reduced to 75-4 in the space of a few overs.
Coming back to bowl after a four-over spell in the morning, left-armer Trent Boult dismissed opener Shan Masood (40) leg before wicket and then had captain Misbah-ul-Haq caught behind in his next over.
Masood had added 62 for the second wicket with Azhar Ali (24) before the latter threw away his wicket, hitting a full toss from Craig to James Neesham at cover.
The hosts had suffered an early jolt in their chase when paceman Tim Southee removed opener Taufeeq Umar for 4 in his first over, the second of the innings.
Younus struck three sixes and two boundaries during his 84-ball knock to calm Pakistan’s nerves.
Earlier, Ross Taylor completed his 12th Test century before New Zealand declared their second innings on 250-9.
Former skipper Taylor, unbeaten on 77 overnight, tapped paceman Ehsan Adil on the leg side for a single to reach his mark, his innings studded with 12 boundaries.
The 30-year-old right-handed batsman was stumped on 104 to give leg-spinner Yasir Shah his first five-wicket haul in Tests.
Taylor had added a crucial 60 for the seventh wicket with Craig (34).
Southee whacked 20 in five balls, with three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (4-96) to boost New Zealand’s total.
Captain Brendon McCullum signaled the declaration after Southee holed out attempting another big shot off Babar.
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