Pakistan close on 317/5 on Day 1 of the 1st Test against New Zealand in Karachi

[Rana]

4 soft dismissals in the session

 

[Rana]

Beauty Sarfaraz

He didn’t pick the googly but gets 4

 

[dravidthewall]

All depends on saviour Sarfraz ahmed

 

[Jazx]

Its preaty easy to trap pakistani batsmans out by looking at saud's dismissal. Didn't get what is the role of agha in this lineup. Batting at seven and never bowls.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Decent session for NZ

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Imagine Babar wasn't playing our score would be so low

 

[SamNJ]

What an absolutely horrific spell from Sodhi though. He is bowling T10 speeds and trajectories on this rank turner

 

[RyanRyan10]

No broadcast in India

Sony Ten 5

 

[JibranAnsari]

England have done us one favor , our run rate has improved.

 

[Cricket-lion]

Most brainless player in PCT history made chief selector based of what?

This is good that Afridi is getting exposed. A favouritism selection it seem to the most brain less person in the country.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Usual minnow like batting from Pakistan.

 

[Devadwal]

Babar dropped catch can cost nz

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

I wish Sarfaraz score some runs in this format as he is technically well equipped than Rizwan.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Sarfaraz is a proper batsman unlike Rizwan , and also a good player of spinners. If he can stay for another session, runs will come and Pakistan would be in a much stronger position.

 

[TheSultan]

I think a good performance from Sarfraz and he’ll be back as captain again

 

[boomboomcheema]

Sarfaraz always been a busy player, does no time pass or useless blocking. Always looking to score runs, his longer stay on the wicket has always been been beneficial for Pakistan.

 

[MenInG]

It was a day of firsts in Karachi during the opening day of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand as a Kiwi wicketkeeper Tom Blundell produced a feat never seen before in 145 years of Men's Test cricket.

While history was made prior to the toss with New Zealand back in Pakistan for a Test series for the first time since 2002 and Pakistan veteran Sarfaraz Ahmed earning a recall for what was his first Test on home soil in his 50th appearance, what then occurred during the first session was a first in Men's Test cricket.

Kiwi skipper Tim Southee introduced veteran spinner Ajaz Patel into the attack in just the fourth over of the day and the move paid dividends almost immediately as Abdullah Shafique was out stumped by Blundell for seven.

Then just three overs later the Kiwis had their second and it was Shan Masood that perished this time, with the left-hander stumped by Blundell off the bowling of Michael Bracewell.

It meant the first two dismissals of the Test had been stumpings, a feat which had never been seen previously at Test level for men.

World Test Championship: How your team can reach the final
It is the second time it had occurred overall, with the Women's Test between Australia and the West Indies in Jamaica in 1976 also commencing with two stumping dismissals.

Bracewell dismissed the usually reliable Imam-ul-Haq shortly after - the Pakistan opener was out caught - giving New Zealand an excellent start to the Test match and to the series.

ICC

 

[adi_62941]

Mindboggling to see sarfraz before agha salman who is a proper batsmen.

 

[adi_62941]

There is no doubt that karachi is the most boring and dull venue for test cricket (atleast) in whole pakistan. No energt no vibe

 

[hafeezrocks]

Need a big Daddy Double Hundred from Babar here. Like 230-250 runs .

 

[JibranAnsari]

just saw highlights , all wickets stupidly thrown away by pakistanis.

 

[Kianig89]

Need a big partnership to authenticate the Bazball approach

 

[JibranAnsari]

There is no doubt that karachi is the most boring and dull venue for test cricket (atleast) in whole pakistan. No energt no vibe

its very hard to get to the stadium. Millions of hurdles to cross before you are allowed in.

 

[ammar_merry]

There is no doubt that karachi is the most boring and dull venue for test cricket (atleast) in whole pakistan. No energt no vibe

Pindi was good from crowd point of view. Bazid was taking a dig on Arooj for 15 people in the stands.

 

[Jazx]

I think a good performance from Sarfraz and he’ll be back as captain again

So the conclusion is made after a brilliant 8 not out from sarfaraz.

 

[adi_62941]

its very hard to get to the stadium. Millions of hurdles to cross before you are allowed in.

Karachi was never looked good even it has crowd in stadiums, i dont know why. Its not TV friendly venue or something else as compared to other stadiums in pakistan

 

[Ami]

ha bhai...any more great hypes resting in the nests?
Just live with what you have?
Cant wait for a fifer from Hamza.

 

[cerebralrattlesnake]

babar or bust on display once again

but don't tell that to the pp "experts"

 

[Ami]

Sarfraz is still there ..haha.
Any crumbs of comfort will do.

 

[Ami]

babar or bust on display once again

but don't tell that to the pp "experts"

Spot on.
Haha...dont you wanna see the next big thing?

 

[Desi Don]

Sarfaraz Ahmed already looks better than rizwan

 

[JibranAnsari]

signature sarfraz shot for 4

 

[JibranAnsari]

southee is getting some movement. This pitch looks terrible , very poor bounce.

 

[ammar_merry]

This is good that Afridi is getting exposed. A favouritism selection it seem to the most brain less person in the country.

How is he exposed?

 

[Snowflake]

One trick pony Wagner is here.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Sarfaraz already looked much better than Rizwan's entire test career.

 

[Snowflake]

There is no doubt that karachi is the most boring and dull venue for test cricket (atleast) in whole pakistan. No energt no vibe

Not just for test cricket. Karachi is not suitable to host any cricket due to the crowd; lack of that is

 

[Snowflake]

Umpire needs to start giving these as wides.

 

[PakPremi]

How is he exposed?

Just because they say so .

 

[MenInG]

Sarfaraz already looked much better than Rizwan's entire test career.

That is not what we were saying a few years ago.

But good for Pakistan this

 

[JibranAnsari]

we may start hearing wife jokes soon on vommentary.

 

[SamNJ]

Negative bowling from Wagner.

 

[PakPremi]

Babar looking good as ever and Sarfra playing confidently well.

 

[Ahmed216]

Sarfraz is far better against spin than fidgety rizwan who comes out to bat with a rat in his pants.

 

[PakPremi]

Sarfaraz already looked much better than Rizwan's entire test career.

Lets not go overboard Rizwan has played some brilliant innings in tests including in difficult circumstances .

 

[Ami]

What happened to the hype train?
We gotta get these boys in ASAP to ruin.their careers..

Kamran, Hurraira and Mubasir/Mudasir/Maradonna?

Lets put a curse on these boys and put em in a test team, hell any format, and wait for explosion.

 

[SamNJ]

Azhar Ali retired from Pakistan and started bowling left arm spin for NZ. What a talented Cricketer.

 

[PakPremi]

England attack was much better and more resourceful, so chamce for Pakistan to post good score despite poor start.

 

[Rana]

Good partnership for Pakistan this

 

[PakPremi]

Thank Allah Sikander is in commentry box.

 

[Snowflake]

Thank Allah Sikander is in commentry box.

What’s that about?

 

[Ashmal]

Sarfaraz already looked much better than Rizwan's entire test career.

Go easy, man....don't forget why Sarfaraz was dropped in first place.

Sarfaraz deserved his chance here and I hope he goes on to get a big score.

But, he's always been great against spin, his real test will be the pacers.

Rizwan inspite of his recent struggle, still avgs close to 40 in Tests with credible performances in Eng, Aus, NZ.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

That is not what we were saying a few years ago.

But good for Pakistan this

Sarfaraz in red ball cricket was always better than Rizwan.

 

[PakPremi]

What’s that about?

He is good and knows what he is talking about, does not waffle like others.

 

[PakPremi]

Everuthing going in Babar's favour today, lets hope it does as a captain when Pakistan are bowling as well.

 

[boomboomcheema]

What a knock by Babar under pressure..there have been so many calls to change the Captain with changes being made in management, selectors... The sword was hanging over Babar too and he has delivered well here. Expect a celebration when he gets his ton.

 

[MenInG]

What a knock by Babar under pressure..there have been so many calls to change the Captain with changes being made in management, selectors... The sword was hanging over Babar too and he has delivered well here. Expect a celebration when he gets his ton.

People looking to bring him down all the time. What a player

 

[Amjid Javed]

Sarfaraz with a nice 20 so far, but needs to go on here.

 

[cerebralrattlesnake]

Sarfaraz already looked much better than Rizwan's entire test career.

how many tests tons does sarfraz have in aus?

 

[JibranAnsari]

looks not out

 

[JibranAnsari]

aleem dar always goes against pakistan. Needs to retire.

 

[Rana]

How was the on field decision out?

 

[Ashmal]

People looking to bring him down all the time. What a player

But but but...he scores soft runs

 

[JibranAnsari]

we need neutral umpires.

 

[Rana]

Sarfaraz with a nice 20 so far, but needs to go on here.

Tbf he’s out on a good partnership with Babar

 

[Rana]

Just like our coaches, our umpires also have bughz against us

 

[cerebralrattlesnake]

sarfraz makes good 20s

while rizwan makes selfish 50s

wah

 

[shah_1]

Aleem has lost it

Needs to retire

 

[JibranAnsari]

good over rate by Nz so far

 

[Saj]

Ideal situation for Sarfaraz this.

Comeback, wickets down and Pakistan in trouble.

Man for a crisis.

 

[AAli98]

Baba wants his century with the flat tracks his requested. (At least his decent enough to get it same can’t be said about parchii ul haq) But will give away 100+ away to the opposition with his dreadful captaincy.

 

[FreakCricket]

Good knock so far from sarfraz need to target 50

 

[Mean&Green]

Seeing safaraz in the team just makes this team look relaxed

 

[JibranAnsari]

good pressure by NZ

 

[TheSultan]

So the conclusion is made after a brilliant 8 not out from sarfaraz.

I made that conclusion when he was 4 not out actually.

And it was a generic statement based on pre-match selection rather than what was going on in the middle at the time.

Think about it.

1. Babar’s days as captain are numbered
2. “Resting” Rizwan is a big vote of no confidence of Rizwan being next in line.
3. Sarfraz is a natural skipper without anyone obvious.
4. Only thing stopping Sarfraz is he’s not an integral part of the team and a good performance will Allay those fears.

Simple logic.

 

[TheSultan]

What a knock by Babar under pressure..there have been so many calls to change the Captain with changes being made in management, selectors... The sword was hanging over Babar too and he has delivered well here. Expect a celebration when he gets his ton.

Batting != captaincy

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

how many tests tons does sarfraz have in aus?

Might be none, but even Yasir Shah has a fluke ton in Aus.

 

[PakPremi]

But but but...he scores soft runs

I never understood concept of soft runs. In Test cricket whenever you score runs they help the team to win, avaoid defeat or draw. Pakistani team especially is hardly ever in confortable position, so runs scored for them are like gold dust.

 

[boomboomcheema]

What a way to bring up his Ton, with a Sixer.

 

[TheSultan]

Well played Sarfraz. He’s guided Babar to this ton here.