ZCZC
BSP-09
CRICKET-PAK-NZL
New Zealand dismissed for 153 after Williamson’s fifty
ABU DHABI, Nov 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Pakistan’s spin-cum-pace attack left
New Zealand in ruins at tea on the opening day of the first Test despite
captain Kane Williamson’s half century in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
The Kiwis were all out for 153, with Williamson’s 27th Test half century
reduced to a footnote.
His performance with the bat had lifted New Zealand from 39-3 to 111
before medium pacer Hasan Ali (2-38) and left-arm spinner Haris Sohail (2-11)
struck twice each to leave their opponents struggling at Sheikh Zayed
Stadium.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who finished as the best bowler with 3-54,
dismissed Ajaz Patel for six to end the innings.
Hasan removed Williamson with a slower delivery as the New Zealand skipper
went for a hook and gloved the ball for wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed’s fourth
catch of the innings.
Williamson’s 112 ball-63 had five boundaries and he added 72 for the
fourth wicket with Henry Nicholls who made 28 with four boundaries.
In the same over Hasan trapped Colin de Grandhomme for a first-ball duck
before Sohail dismissed Ish Sodhi (four) and BJ Watling (four) — both were
trapped leg-before.
Mohammad Abbas, who has figures of 2-13, had removed Nicholls, caught
behind by Sarfraz soon after lunch.
Pakistan dominated the first session as New Zealand were 81-3 at lunch,
with leg-spinner Yasir Shah taking the first of his two wickets in his
opening overs.
Yasir had derailed New Zealand’s progress in the first session with the
wickets of opener Tom Latham (13) and Ross Taylor (two) in his first spell.
New Zealand openers Jeet Raval and Latham survived some anxious moments
before pace spearhead Mohammad Abbas had Raval edging to wicketkeeper Sarfraz
Ahmed after scoring seven.
Yasir, who had to endure a tough last week due to the death of his mother,
had Latham caught at mid-wicket off a loose drive with the fourth ball of his
first over.
In his fourth over Yasir had Taylor caught behind with a sharp leg-break,
leaving New Zealand at 39-3.
New Zealand handed Test debut to 30-year-old left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel,
leaving out pacer Tim Southee.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1800HRS