Pakistan end Day 3 on 407/9, still trailing New Zealand by 42 runs

[MenInG]

Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel have it in them to take Pakistan to a position of strength on Day 3. The key is to not lose wickets early in the morning. Easier said than done?

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[jnaveen1980]

Even though track appears to be placid. This has result producing potential. It is upto both teams how they want take it from here. If they bat all 3 sessions at a run rate of 3.5 will add another 315. That means 469. Slightly ahead. If they go at 3 total will be 424 stilll behind. Basically Pakistan is in a position to bat all 3 sessions plus some. Then they can turn this into somewhat a 1 innings Test match.

 

[Rana]

Massive first session for Pakistan

2 wickets early on and we are in big trouble

 

[James]

The last wicket partnership for New Zealand seemed so crucial. I would like Pakistan to reach parity here, but I think that New Zealand are going to have a strong bowling & fielding session at some point on Day 3 and that’s all it will take for them to open up a first innings lead.

 

[Rana]

The last wicket partnership for New Zealand seemed so crucial. I would like Pakistan to reach parity here, but I think that New Zealand are going to have a strong bowling & fielding session at some point on Day 3 and that’s all it will take for them to open up a first innings lead.

Pakistan doesn’t have the worst tail for once

I recon they can get close to the 400 mark at least

 

[ArabKnight]

Pakistan doesn’t have the worst tail for once

I recon they can get close to the 400 mark at least

It will depend on Imam ul Haq for now. Hopefully he does not get out early in morning like Babar.

I would like Imam to flex with muscles and get a big ton.

Imam is truly a class player. He and Sarfraz saved the last Test. But this time, I hope to see a classic partnership between the two Imams.

This match will ignite a new era of Pakistan cricket.

 

[PakLFC]

Unimpressive to say the least. Babar seems eager to join Miandad and Inzi as being a specialist in getting run out. Not gonna win this test now. For a draw can't afford to lose more then one wicket in the next opening session. Imam is our is wicket.

 

[Kianig89]

imam needs to conver this into something big, day 3 wicket will show its color also

 

[ArabKnight]

I deeply hate the notion that Imam running out Babar was a bad thing.

It was actually a very positive thing, we might actually see this match swing to Pakistan now, finally.

 

[ArabKnight]

Imam starts off the day hitting a beautiful 4 off the first ball.

How can you hate this guy?

 

[Energy]

Good to see for once Imam not throw his wicket away early in the morning. Chance for him to get a big hundred, not a 101/105.

 

[ArabKnight]

Imam slowed down here.

Scored only 2 runs from the last 31 balls, after a 4 off first ball of day.

Very bizarre batsman.

 

[Firdous dar]

When will be the squad announced for the odi's ..

 

[boomboomcheema]

Imam gone.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Our batters get out on the dumbest balls man. Some crap short & wide delivery and Shan Masood messes it up for a catch at point. Short & wide delivery again and its a nick to the keeper from Imam.

How many countless dumb nicks down the legside did we see in the England series? Instead of easy boundaries, its easy wickets for the opposition. Just weak dismissals after weak ones.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Still 267 runs behind.

 

[Ahmed216]

Imam is such a pathetic selfish cricketer

 

[Savak]

Pipedream seeing a big daddy double century from a Pakistani player.

 

[kingusama92]

All four wickets have been thrown away.

 

[Ahmed216]

Now they’ll spend next 3 days trying to draw this game

 

[Blackbradman]

Now they’ll spend next 3 days trying to draw this game

Sarfaraz will play his natural game, he can not survive trying to defend everything.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Reverse for Southee.

 

[adi_62941]

When you like to play majority of your top level cricket with low ranked teams (Zim, WI, Bang, Ire) and not ready to try even 1 junior player who is sitting on the bench, then this will bound to happen.
Our all top players see diamonds when they see fixtures against low ranked teams and nobody want to miss the series and when they see tough opponents they become pet cats. I still cant beleive we used to play our first choice XI in all meaningless matches involving zimb, bang and WI series

Pakistan cricket will improve when they will start playing regular home/away series with top ranked teams.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Sarfarz so far has been reserved.. maybe the plan is to keep wickets and save the match .

 

[JibranAnsari]

Sarfraz needs to play his natural game

 

[PakPremi]

Sarfraz looking scratchy so far and Saud needs to play a bit more positive to shift pressure. Good shot just now by Sarfaz.

 

[PakLFC]

NZ score 450 and we are 207 with four down. Will be a new low if NZ defeat us at home.

 

[MHN1293]

Another boring draw coming up. We only have ourselves to blame not the pitch for allowing tailenders to score 100runs. This match still had all 3 possible scenarios if not for that.

 

[PakPremi]

Sarfraz having to fetch helmet every over is really silly. Should be allowed to keep the helmet on field.

 

[Markhor]

When you like to play majority of your top level cricket with low ranked teams (Zim, WI, Bang, Ire) and not ready to try even 1 junior player who is sitting on the bench, then this will bound to happen.
Our all top players see diamonds when they see fixtures against low ranked teams and nobody want to miss the series and when they see tough opponents they become pet cats. I still cant beleive we used to play our first choice XI in all meaningless matches involving zimb, bang and WI series

Pakistan cricket will improve when they will start playing regular home/away series with top ranked teams.

True. I look back at the ZIM Tests in 2021 - we gave a charity pick to Tabish Khan instead of grooming a younger seamer. We played Azhar Ali in both Tests instead of giving a new batsman a chance.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Yaar, that Paan they showed in the break with crushed ice and the fire on cloves was just wonderful, exotic fillings ...i wish i could get one of those...that must be absolute rocket!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Saud, Sarfaraz or Agha need to score a ton here.

No surprise imam threw his wicket away as usual this morning

 

[imshally81]

50 for Saud.. Great batting

 

[Amjid Javed]

50 for Saud, needs to convert that to a big 100.

 

[PakPremi]

Sarfraz once again providing the oxygen to Pakistan batting as Misbah previously claimed for him.

 

[PakPremi]

Pakistan look in good position atm, but I think they will fall short by atleast 50 runs from NZ first inning total, with long and inexperienced tail. Hasan Ali will as usual throw away his wicket with mindless shot.

 

[emranabbas]

Sarfaraz trying to be clever playing odi cricket in tests so he could get picked for odis too

 

[imshally81]

Partnership is now 81*

 

[Rana]

Sarfaraz with his technique has clear issues with the outswinging ball

 

[imshally81]

3rd consecutive 50 by Sarfaraz

 

[Rana]

Another 50 for Sarfaraz

Pakistan would not have lost 3-0 if he had played against England

 

[Asif321]

SR of 82

 

[ataullah]

Sarfaraz with his technique has clear issues with the outswinging ball

Hope he just plays tests in Asia. No white ball or SENA tests

 

[Ahmed216]

Another 50 for Sarfaraz

Pakistan would not have lost 3-0 if he had played against England

Absolutely. But no way they could have dropped Rizwan prior to that series.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Can Pakistan get a 100-150 runs lead here and would that be enough to enforce a result in their favor ?

 

[Ahmed216]

Was sick of watching Rizwan twitch n turn on these featherbeds

 

[Omer2002]

These are the flattest wickets on the planet you can not count Shakeel...Agha or Saffys scores here. Might as well compare to Sodhi, Henry and Patels runs then. In a nutshell it is criminal to get out on these wickets. Only the first hour in first test the ball spun sharply because of the moisture which clearly means we cant play spin as well thus not making spinning wickets.

 

[SamNJ]

3 dominating 50s by Sarfraz. Has really pushed Rizwan out of tests at least for some time now.

 

[Rana]

Hope he just plays tests in Asia. No white ball or SENA tests

He is a better ODI batsman than Rizwan

Even in T20, he is a better middle order batsman than Rizwan

 

[emranabbas]

If these 2 could get another 80-90 tail can handle the rest

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Timeless Tests are back

 

[PakPremi]

[MENTION=144298]Omer2002[/MENTION] it is not the surface that accounts for Pakistani batsmen dismissals, it is their suicidal shots even when the bowler is not threatening and bowling pies, but the two that are batting are quite sensible.

 

[imshally81]

Another 50 for Sarfaraz

Pakistan would not have lost 3-0 if he had played against England

Unpopular opinion but true..

 

[TheSultan]

Ruthless from the kiwi commentator alluding to the fact that the pitches may be flat cos babar wants to improve his stats

 

[TheSultan]

Another 50 for Sarfaraz

Pakistan would not have lost 3-0 if he had played against England

The case for Sarfaraz as interim test captain gets stronger with every innings.

It’s a no brainer as far as I’m concerned

 

[boomboomcheema]

Ruthless from the kiwi commentator alluding to the fact that the pitches may be flat cos babar wants to improve his stats

That could be true.

Pitches have gone all flat since he took over.

Australia Series
England Series
And now current NZ series

All flat pitches.

Even Bangladeshis produce lively pitches at home , against India for example.

 

[shah_1]

Ruthless from the kiwi commentator alluding to the fact that the pitches may be flat cos babar wants to improve his stats

Simon Doull is very blunt haha

 

[emranabbas]

Anyone having poor quality on sky sports?

 

[Rafa]

This isn't happening by fluke or chance, deliberately these kind of pitches are being prepared. For all we know Pakistan will have a better chance on bowling friendly pitches but Batsmen won't get opportunities to inflate their averages, hence it's not done.

 

[Rana]

Shaqeel absolute class

 

[boomboomcheema]

Patel is bunny of Shakeel

 

[TheSultan]

This isn't happening by fluke or chance, deliberately these kind of pitches are being prepared. For all we know Pakistan will have a better chance on bowling friendly pitches but Batsmen won't get opportunities to inflate their averages, hence it's not done.

The problem is our batsmen don’t even know how to inflate their stats. They are clueless on challenging pitches and poor on good pitches

 

[SamNJ]

With the amount of grass on it first day I predicted that this pitch will keep getting better for batting. With so much grass, there won't be much deterioration.

 

[Rana]

Great hundred Saud

Many more to come InshaAllah

 

[JibranAnsari]

100 for shakeel. Hopefully first of many to come.

 

[cerebralrattlesnake]

well played shakeel

proper gritty test innings

 

[emranabbas]

Good review saifi

 

[gibsyhesperis]

That could be true.

Pitches have gone all flat since he took over.

Australia Series
England Series
And now current NZ series

All flat pitches.

Even Bangladeshis produce lively pitches at home , against India for example.

Pakistan pitches have always been flat, with a few exceptions.
It’s why in Pakistan there is the highest ratio of drawn Tests (significantly higher than in India).
We have had some reasonable surfaces (recent South African series) but over the last forty years they have been pretty bad.

 

[Kroll]

TV umpire's mysteriously made the ball hit the bat on the DRS according to NZ.

 

[Ahmed216]

Liked how calm Saud was when he couldn’t open his account for first 40 balls. Commentators were expecting him to play a rash shot . But he looked very assured and determined to play a long innings .

 

[TheSultan]

This not looking good

 

[JibranAnsari]

Out i think

 

[boomboomcheema]

Wicket at wrong time

 

[JibranAnsari]

Poor balance

 

[JibranAnsari]

Great knock by sarfraz anyway.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Didn't realise the whole foot had to be down

 

[TheSultan]

Unlucky

 

[Kroll]

What?

 

[Usman Chadda]

Our players are a joke, finding new ways to get out )

 

[boomboomcheema]

Making Daryl Mitchell look unplayable