Sarfaraz Ahmed guides Pakistan to a compelling draw against the Kiwis

Sarfaraz Ahmed shines with a terrific century to help Pakistan draw in the second and final Test against New Zealand as the series concluded 0-0 on Friday, January 6. 

The ex-skipper of the home side had also smashed half-centuries in his last three innings after being recalled for the series following a period of approx four years of absence. He made 118 in the last match before the game ended due to bad light and the last-wicket pair moved towards the pavilion. The home side was 304-9 at that time and were just 15 runs shy of winning the series with the 1st Test match drawn. 

"Dream comeback for him," skipper Babar Azam said. "Sarfaraz did not let the fire die within him in four years. His work ethic was always there and he continued to wait for his turn."

The Kiwis took seven wickets on the final day of the 2nd Test and that one wicket more would have led them to a forcing win.

Sarfaraz stood strong for 4 hours and 48 minutes and made a second successive century partnership with Saud Shakeel (32) after the Black Caps had reduced Pakistan to 80-5 before lunch, all credit to Michael Bracewell (4-75) shattering two wickets in six deliveries. 

Keeper-batsman Sarfaraz and Shakeel withstood New Zealand for near about three hours before Shakeel got out to an excellent reflex catch in the slips by Daryl Mitchell, early in the final session of the game.

Also, Agha Salman made a quick 30 run but was later clean bowled by Matt Henry just before the New Zealand bowlers struck twice with the new ball under fading light.

Hasan Ali got trapped in a leg before wicket by pacer Tim Southee and Sarfaraz’s wicket was brilliantly wrapped up by Kane Williamson quite low at leg slip coming off from Bracewell’s off-spin delivery. The Pakistan batter walked away towards the dressing room with a standing ovation from the crowd present at the National Stadium. 

The tailenders. No. 10 Naseem Shah and No. 11 Abrar Ahmed then faced Bracewell and Ish Sodhi (2-59) with all the other 10 fielders around the batter just like a classic Test match scenario but the bad light ended the play with three overs to spare.

"Came down to the last moments, a great end to 10 days of pretty tough toil," stated New Zealand captain Tim Southee.

"We knew from the nature of the surface that things could happen late in the Test but Sarfaraz was probably the difference. We could've won had we got him earlier."

Sarfaraz in his tremendous innings, keeping alive the hopes of the Pakistan side, hit nine fours and a six in his first Test century since scoring 112 against the same opponent in Dubai in 2014, said: "When 140 runs were left (in the final session), the management said that you need to keep trying to score when the ball is there to hit. If those two wickets didn't fall then the result could've been something else."