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Kane Williamson (139*) and Henry Nicholls (90*) put New Zealand on top in final Test versus Pakistan

This is better than his hundred last time NZ were here where Brendon stole the show.
 
Should bat 15 overs normally then hit out and put Pakistan in for 5 overs.
 
1 chance isn't 6 or 7 like Smith's was.
Please do not exaggerate.
A poster here said these are tough conditions and none of kohli and smith could have scored a hundred here. Only a newzealnd ****** like u wont find that ridiculous
 
230-240 in 95 overs?

They won't be that agressive and they don't need to be,declare 15/20overs before lunch tommorow with a target around 300+,i don't think pak would be able to bat 2 sessions to draw.
 
NZ has put pressure on Pakistan. Great fight back on this slow turning pitch by NZ ,150 runs partnership isnt a joke. Pakistan on backfoot.
 
Watching Bilal Asif's bowling is like watching somebody put ketchup in your haleem.
 
New zealand declaration will come 30 minutes after morning session or max 45 minutes. Pak will have to bat out 80 odd overs tomorrow.

which is not going to be that difficult it is not a rank turner pitch.
 
UAE pitches are the worst I think in the world. Pitch can be spin favoring, but slow turning pitches is a disgrace for the basmen, for the viewers. Ball is turning,but as the wicket is slow,it doesn't come on to the bat. Shot making is so difficult here. BD pitches in recently concluded WI series was also spinning but ball was coming onto the bat. Any good batsman who can play spin well could hit the ball. But UAE pitch don't suit strokemaker at all.
 
At this point, I believe de Grandhomme is going to come in and smash a 40 ball 70.
 
NZ should declare the innings. Our batting is too weak to score even 100
 
NZ runrate is improving , these 2 have spent a long time on this pitch. So they can gradullay accelerate here.
 
What a player Williamson is, but here must appreciate Nicholls as well.

22 overs left today, light permitting - that’s 112 overs in the game. I would have been a really worried man if I were Sarfraz. Kiwis can bat for 25 overs (3 tomorrow), use the heaviest roller on 5th morning and set PAK 256 to win in 85 overs, leaving 5 overs with 2nd ball.
 
New zealand declaration will come 30 minutes after morning session or max 45 minutes. Pak will have to bat out 80 odd overs tomorrow.

which is not going to be that difficult it is not a rank turner pitch.

Bro, I told you in IND-AUS game thread - “.... one lost to ZIM at home & one is struggling to hold on to underwear against this Kiwi team.... we shouldn’t talk about India’s No. 1 ranking & home bullying ......”.

Do you think playing out for a draw with the skin of your teeth is an achievement for PAK against this Kiwi team?
 
Why new ball is not taken by pakistan...its irritating...poor capatancy by sarfraz

He is scared of conceding quick runs, and rightly so - both set batsmen against tiered attack, Kiwis might add close to 100 against new ball tonight.
 
156 run lead ...wow...

Now I dont know if Pakistan should bother getting the last 6 wickets or kill time and let them bat as much as they want and draw the game :jimmy
 
What a player Williamson is, but here must appreciate Nicholls as well.

22 overs left today, light permitting - that’s 112 overs in the game. I would have been a really worried man if I were Sarfraz. Kiwis can bat for 25 overs (3 tomorrow), use the heaviest roller on 5th morning and set PAK 256 to win in 85 overs, leaving 5 overs with 2nd ball.

Sarfaraz never worries because it’s never sarfaraz’s fault. If PAK loses its always batsman/bowlers fault. It’s never captain/keeper fault
 
156 run lead ...wow...

Now I dont know if Pakistan should bother getting the last 6 wickets or kill time and let them bat as much as they want and draw the game :jimmy

Pakistan batsmen need to grow a pair and chase it.
 
He is scared of conceding quick runs, and rightly so - both set batsmen against tiered attack, Kiwis might add close to 100 against new ball tonight.

But he has to take risk now ..getting fear about runs wont do any wonder....he has to take chance to win this game
 
Bro, I told you in IND-AUS game thread - “.... one lost to ZIM at home & one is struggling to hold on to underwear against this Kiwi team.... we shouldn’t talk about India’s No. 1 ranking & home bullying ......”.

Do you think playing out for a draw with the skin of your teeth is an achievement for PAK against this Kiwi team?
Dominating most days during the series isnt exactly holding on to a underwear.
 
Any competent Asian team would not be panicking being set a target of 150-200 even 250. But yet here we are on a dud pitch, even if you consider it a pitch with some spice, facing substandard Western spinners, freaking out chasing 150. Can't blame the fans but have to blame this spineless batting order. 2 spineless openers (Imam didn't inherit anything from Inzi it seems like, except maybe anger), a useless tail, useless keeper batsman, so the #3, #4, and #5 (hit or miss) have to chase everything themselves.
 
But he has to take risk now ..getting fear about runs wont do any wonder....he has to take chance to win this game

He didn’t take chance against Aussies with 462 on board & one more Test to play - you expect him to take chance on a series decider?
 
Tough choice for the Kiwis..should they go for runs and risk getting bowled out for 200-210 or even lower? or should they bat out the day, end with a lead of 190-200 by the close of play with 3-4 wickets remaining, score 35-40 runs in the morning and give themselves 75-80 overs tomorrow or to play totally safe and carry on batting for as long as they can content with a 1-1 draw in the series?

With the series on the line, Pakistan will go for it even if they have to chase 250+ in 55-60 overs.
 
Just noticed, Umar Akmal has scored a 161 ball 116 in QeA final .... and Rizwan is burning form these days.

As they say - when things get bad, it comes from every corner.
 
He didn’t take chance against Aussies with 462 on board & one more Test to play - you expect him to take chance on a series decider?
Series level in home ground is equivalent to loss to pakistan team...he has to go for a kill to win the series..
 
Just noticed, Umar Akmal has scored a 161 ball 116 in QeA final .... and Rizwan is burning form these days.

As they say - when things get bad, it comes from every corner.

At this point, anyone over Sarfraz would be an upgrade. He has completely lost it mentally.
 
28 overs on a spinning wicket and still wicket less by a man who himself cannot face 28 deliveries another self-proclaimed allrounder
 
Tough choice for the Kiwis..should they go for runs and risk getting bowled out for 200-210 or even lower? or should they bat out the day, end with a lead of 190-200 by the close of play with 3-4 wickets remaining, score 35-40 runs in the morning and give themselves 75-80 overs tomorrow or to play totally safe and carry on batting for as long as they can content with a 1-1 draw in the series?

With the series on the line, Pakistan will go for it even if they have to chase 250+ in 55-60 overs.

Easiest choice for them to be honest - they are not chasing the game/series here. From a possible 3-0 brown wash, 1-1 is quite a good result for them, particularly when they hold the rubber for last series (and they can always back themselves to win next series again at home). If possible, Kiwis should bat 25 minutes till lunch tomorrow and set 300 in 70 overs .,,,,,
 
I don't believe Pakistan will be in a position to chase as NZ will set up 300 for the win. There is no way Pakistan will look to score 300 on the 5th day and would therefore be content with a draw.

But we all know what happens when Pakistan tries to draw a game on the 5th day:
Birmingham 2016
Hamilton 2016
Melbourne 2016

Might as well add Abu Dhabi 2018 to the list.
 
Tough choice for the Kiwis..should they go for runs and risk getting bowled out for 200-210 or even lower? or should they bat out the day, end with a lead of 190-200 by the close of play with 3-4 wickets remaining, score 35-40 runs in the morning and give themselves 75-80 overs tomorrow or to play totally safe and carry on batting for as long as they can content with a 1-1 draw in the series?

With the series on the line, Pakistan will go for it even if they have to chase 250+ in 55-60 overs.

Not in a gazillion years. Only would've gone for the target if they were 1-0 down in the series. In 2014, Pakistan were set 260 in 67 overs in the second test match in Dubai I believe. They were 1-0 up in the series with 1 match still remaining. They still don't go for the target. So to believe that this time they will go for the target when they can secure the series 1-1 is wishful thinking.
 
my Test 11 in Asia.

1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Azhar Ali
3) Haris Sohail
4) Asad Shafique
5)Umar Akmal
6)Babar Azam
7)Sarfaraz (captain)
8) Shadab
9) Yasir Shah
10) M Abbass
11) Hassan Ali
 
I don't believe Pakistan will be in a position to chase as NZ will set up 300 for the win. There is no way Pakistan will look to score 300 on the 5th day and would therefore be content with a draw.

But we all know what happens when Pakistan tries to draw a game on the 5th day:
Birmingham 2016
Hamilton 2016
Melbourne 2016

Might as well add Abu Dhabi 2018 to the list.
What if Pakistan goes for win :ma

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...ri-lanka-tour-of-united-arab-emirates-2013-14
 
Poor captaincy from Sarfraz. Bilal asif bowling negative line and still looking to contain.
 
r/r & pitch killed this Test . Said a draw very much on cards on all 4 days & now it is a firm favorite .
 
People are forgetting that there are two teams in play, why is everyone acting like New Zealand should have just folded? They have the best captain in world cricket, who happens to be one the best batsmen in the world and is supported by decent bowlers and batsmen.

I expected the fight and they deserve the luck they've had this innings. This comeback is what makes test cricket intriguing.

Still think we have won more sessions but New Zealand definitely are ahead at this stage. Any result is still possible - win, loss and draw.
 
Yasir Shah is into his 74th over this match, while Bilal has completed close to 60 overs. I don't know about Sarfaraz's mindset but to make your best bowler bowl close to 80 overs within 4 days is gonna take it's toll on Yasir.
 
Had Asad shafique and lower order carried after his 100 inz would have been out batted seriously this man is the next one to Amir who is not interested in game and plays only for his own place
 
Sarfraz probably won't take the new ball today now. Probably saving it for the morning when there might be some swing. Or probably would take it when there are about 5 overs remaining in the day so that he can have two bites at the cherry. Either ways idiotic decision. Should've taken it when it was due an hour ago.
 
r/r & pitch killed this Test . Said a draw very much on cards on all 4 days & now it is a firm favorite .

Definitely, but Kiwi’s batting tactics suggests they’ll take a chance, may be with 70 overs at hand if they can stick around.

You haven’t seen the end of it yet, so stay tuned.
 
my Test 11 in Asia.

1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Azhar Ali
3) Haris Sohail
4) Asad Shafique
5)Umar Akmal
6)Babar Azam
7)Sarfaraz (captain)
8) Shadab
9) Yasir Shah
10) M Abbass
11) Hassan Ali

Our next test in Asia is next year against Sri Lanka. Sarfraz, Azhar and Shafiq should be gone by then and new players should be given a chance in that series.
 
Sarfraz probably won't take the new ball today now. Probably saving it for the morning when there might be some swing. Or probably would take it when there are about 5 overs remaining in the day so that he can have two bites at the cherry. Either ways idiotic decision. Should've taken it when it was due an hour ago.
If they had taken ASAP nz were at 150 so even if they up the runrate they would have collapsed up to 220 that would have given PAK a better chance
 
One of the differences between this match and the two 300+ chases against Sri Lanka is that Angelo Mathews was their captain, and his defensive fields and general tactical ineptitude helped us pinch easy runs.
 
One of the differences between this match and the two 300+ chases against Sri Lanka is that Angelo Mathews was their captain, and his defensive fields and general tactical ineptitude helped us pinch easy runs.

Also that was at Sharjah where scoring is much easier than this wicket.
 
Hopefully who blamed azhar for defensivness with 11 below par players will shed some criticism on this legend called as sarfaraz
 
This captaincy of Sarfaraz shows just how good was Misbah as a test captain in UAE
 
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] 10 wickets in 70 overs on this pitch !

Don’t think it’s only about wicket - you have to consider the batting class & captaincy as well. In either case Kane Will is a different beast.
 
This captaincy of Sarfaraz shows just how good was Misbah as a test captain in UAE

Or how poor is Sarfraz - Misbah actually ended with 1-1 against Kiwis & Lankans & managed to lose a Test to WIN.
 
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