KARACHI: Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed scripted a remarkable comeback as he smashed his first Test century since his return and fourth overall in the ongoing second Test against New Zealand.

Coming out to bat at number six when Pakistan were struggling at 77/4 and soon 80/5 when Shan Masood departed, launched a counterattack on the Kiwi bowlers by swiftly ticking the scoreboard.

The right-handed batter stitched a fighting 123-run partnership with Saud Shakeel and brought Pakistan back in the hunt.

Sarfaraz kept fighting despite Saud’s dismissal and went on to smash his first Test century since his return and his fourth overall in the longest format.

Notably, Sarfaraz had scored three consecutive half-centuries since his return.

Following his remarkable century, Sarfaraz has gone past Mohammad Rizwan in the list of highest batting averages by wicketkeeper batters for Pakistan in Tests.

Furthermore, Sarfaraz has also scored the most runs by a Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter in a Test series having three matches or less. He also became the only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to amass four fifty-plus scores in a Test series.

At the time this story was filed Pakistan were 249/6 in 78 overs with Sarfaraz (109*) and Salman Ali Agha (16*) unbeaten at the crease. The hosts further needed 70 runs in 15 overs.

READ: Sarfaraz, Saud keep Pakistan afloat as second Test enters decisive phase