KARACHI: Sarfaraz Ahmed chalked up a brilliant century under pressure to save the second Test for Pakistan as they held New Zealand in a tense draw, with only one wicket to spare.
Sarfaraz scripted a sensational pullback of the sinking ship as he played a memorable knock of 176-ball 118 to steer Pakistan out of the crisis after they were reduced 80/5 in the first session on the final day while chasing a target of 319 runs.
Pakistan made 304/9 in their final turn before the play was stopped due to bad light with tailender Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed on the crease.
The wicket-keeper batter made an impressive comeback to the national Test side after four years as he remained the top-scorer in the two-match undecisive series with 335 runs, scoring three consecutive fifties in the first three innings and a century to finish the campaign in style.
Starting the decisive day with a precarious score of 0/2, Pakistan were further jolted by the New Zealand bowler, who grabbed three crucial wickets in the morning session before Sarfaraz and Saud turned the table upside down and stitched an astounding partnership of 123 runs for the sixth wicket.
While Sarafarz took the attacking route, Saud erected a solid bulwark as the two dominated the Kiwi bowlers throughout the second session.
At 203/5 in the final session, Pakistan looked in complete command of the game with only 117 left to chase before Michael Bracewell clawed in with a crucial wicket of Saud, who played a defiant knock of 146-ball 32.
Sarfaraz then added 70 runs with Salman Ali Agha, who scored 30 before he was bowled out by Matt Henry while attempting a big shot.
With three back-to-back wickets in the final hour of play, including Salman’s, New Zealand seeped their way back into the game but tailenders somehow survived 21 balls to defy the series loss for Pakistan.
Following Salman’s dismissal, Hasan Ali only managed 5 from 10 balls when Ish Sodhi caught him in the pads while Sarfaraz left the pitch with the fast-setting sun after he gloved the leg side ball to slips off Bracewell.
Earlier, New Zealand bowlers earned crucial wickets in the first session to push Pakistan deep into the ditch before the determined pair of Saud and Sarfaraz repeated their repeat their performance from two days ago when they hammered a solid 150-run partnership in the first innings.
Overnight batter Imam and Shan added 35 runs before Ish Sodhi gave New Zealand their first breakthrough of the day, cleaning up Imam on 12 as he went down the track but completely missed the sharp turning ball.
Skipper Babar tried to revert his side’s slippage and made 27 from 41 when he was removed by an inside edge down the leg side off Bracewell.
The Legspinner handed Pakistan their third blow of the session when Shan lofted the length ball which was taken comfortably at mid-off by Kane Williamson.
