In this post we will discuss about NZ vs PAK, 2nd Test. As you know that touring SENA has always been a tough challenge for a Sub-Continent Team. Because the players are not use to of the pace and bounce of the surfaces. That’s the reason why most of the teams go early before the actual tour starts to keep their players to settle and adopt the conditions. Pakistan Team done the same by going to New Zealand early but the players doesn’t performed well in the first two T20I’s despite having a good bowling attack. The Pakistan bowlers and fielders let the team down in the T20I’s. Though they finished the T20I series on a high by winning the last T20 with some brilliant bowling and batting performances. But the test series doesn’t start that well for Pakistan as well.
In the First Test Pakistan batting collapsed in the First Innings and then miss-chances, poor fielding let the team down in the field as well. Same Happened in the second innings as well the top three went early then we saw some resistance from the middle order with Fawad Alam and Rizwan putting up a show together with the bat and Pakistan almost drawn the match but could not able to make it as New Zealand won the match with just 4.3 overs to spare.
After the rest of some days the second test began. Pakistani openers went early as they often do in with the new ball then Azhar Ali Stand out with a brilliant 93 Runs combining with the fifty from Muhammad Rizwan 61 and Pakistan managed to score 297 All OUT on the first day on a wearing pitch. The total supposed to be a Good one as Pakistan managed to take 73-3 picking up the New Zealand top order. Then the poor fielding drama continues. Henry nichols was out on 1 but it was a NO BALL by Shaheen Afridi. Then pakistan drop chances of all the centurions. Putting down together 8 catches and didn’t helped their bowlers.
The Summary of the Drop Chances is as Follows:
69.2 – Williamson dropped on 82
Naseem Shah to Williamson, FOUR, dropped in the slips! Pokes at an away-going delivery, extra bounce, he’s looking to punch on the up but gets a thick outside edge that goes between the two slip fielders. Oh, dear. Masood and Haris the men there.
73.6 – Williamson dropped on 107
Faheem Ashraf to Williamson, no run, Shan Masood has put down another one at gully! Width, Williamson cuts but this flies off the edge because of extra bounce, Masood a tad late moving to his left, got his hands to it but couldn’t hold on.
80.5 – Nicholls dropped on 86
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Nicholls, no run, dropped by the keeper! This combination worked when the bowler overstepped. It doesn’t when it’s a legal delivery. And a good one too. Afridi’s ability to get seam movement is really special. So is his accuracy at high pace. He draws Nicholls into a lazy drive. Thick edge. Simple take for the keeper moving to his left. And yet… Nicholls threw his head back, certain he was gone. Umpire Chris Brown had even raised his finger up. And poor Afridi just sank to his knees, wondering why good luck hates him.
91.5 – Nicholls on dropped 92
Mohammad Abbas to Nicholls, no run, has that been put down at gully? Yes, Azhar Ali this time. Nicholls looks to flay this behind point but the length is much fuller, gets a thick edge and the regulation chance goes down. Oh dear. Another life for Nicholls.
107.6 – Nicholls dropped on 133
Naseem Shah to Nicholls, no run, ooooh, he tried so hard. He really really tried so hard. Poor Naseem Shah. He manages to see a plan through to completion. Bouncing Nicholls over and over and waiting to see if his patience runs out. It does here as he backs away and baseballs it down the ground. Shah leaps up and sticks out his left hand, it doesn’t stick, but pops straight back up in the air. So he looks to pick up the rebound, diving further to his left, but it doesn’t land in his hands once more. So unfortunate.
123.1 – Williamson dropped on 177
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Williamson, 1 run, dropped by Azhar at gully. It goes quickly to him. He needs to dive to his right. His hands are stinging from the pain and they’re already wrapped up in tape. All that make it a challenge, but it really should have been taken. Williamson could have been out first ball after the break as he went for that patented dab to third man.
154.2 – Jamieson dropped on 10
Naseem Shah to Jamieson, 1 bye, put down by Rizwan down leg. Have to call it straightforward. Went for another hook, got some glove, a big deflection too. Rizwan just a tad late to move to his left.
154.6 – Mitchell dropped on 79
Naseem Shah to Mitchell, 2 runs, What is happening? Now Gohar has put down one at deep midwicket. He misjudged the ball, ran in and then had to turn back. Mitchell didn’t get hold of the pull, in the end Gohar put in a goalkeeper-like dive but couldn’t hang on. Naseem is disappointed and why not. He’s had a shocker of a Test, and now nothing to show for in the wickets column.
And, a little add-on, one that they almost dropped…
20.4 – Latham dropped and caught on 33
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Latham, OUT, taken on the rebound! Second slip dropped it! First slip takes it! Pakistan have two in two! Only this team can pull off things like this. Afridi who has looked toothless with the new ball comes back and delivers a beauty. The exact kind of ball left-handers hate. Angling into him, and then holding the line to take the edge. Latham pushes hard at it, which is why it goes to Masood at second slip, who is having a horrible match and it could have gotten worse as he shells the ball coming so quickly at him, but Sohail’s freakish reflexes bail him out as he gets down low and grabs the rebound.
That summed up the test for Pakistan as New Zealand got a massive lead. Then in the Second innings Pakistan innings summed up for just 186.
