Babar Azam hits a huge six to spinner Michael Bracewell for six towards s mid-wicket to complete his ninth century.
Babar Azam Hits Six: After New Zealand’s spinners made early inroads on the first day of the first Test in Karachi on Monday. Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam produced a stunning century to lead his team’s revival to 224-4 at tea. Azam completed his seventh Test century by hitting spinner Michael Bracewell for a six toward mid-wickets. Also, giving Pakistan a boost after they were struggling at 115-4 at the break. Azam was undefeated at 119 after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Sarfaraz Ahmed, who had been summoned back, was next to him at 43. Together, they accumulated 114 runs for an uninterrupted fifth-wicket partnership on Monday.
Watch: Pakistan Captain Babar Azam Hits Huge Six to Reach Century vs NZ
Azam also hit 11 boundaries while Sarfaraz — playing his first Test since January 2019 — had seven hits to the rope. New Zealand will be ruing letting Azam off the hook when he was on just 12, after Daryl Mitchell spilled a regulation catch at slip off Bracewell.
Additionally, when Azam was 54 and well outside of his crease, Devon Conway missed the stumps and the tourists were unable to run out the Pakistani captain. The first session was dominated by New Zealand’s spinners. With Bracewell removing Shan Masood for three and Imam-ul-Haq for 24, and Patel picking out Abdullah Shafique for seven early on.
Tim Southee, a quick bowler, finished off a victorious session for the tourists, who are playing their first Test series in Pakistan since 2002, by dismissing Saud Shakeel for 22 in the last over before lunch. The National Stadium pitch began to turn from the beginning, thus New Zealand’s decision to play with three spinners seemed warranted. Patel just entered the game to bowl after the fourth over.
Shafique, who was playing forward, was hit by his third ball and was eventually stumped by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Masood was then stumped by Bracewell in his second over, and Haq was subsequently caught at mid-off after misfiring a drive off him.
The first two dismissals in an innings in Test cricket history were both caught on stumps. Sarfaraz, Mir Hamza, and Haq were called back to the team by Pakistan. Who last week suffered their first-ever 3-0 home loss to England.
PAK vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 1:
263/4 (74 overs): Pakistan are four wickets down against New Zealand. On Day 1 of the ongoing first Test in Karachi. Babar Azam, however, hit his 9th Test century to help Pakistan recover from the early blows. Earlier, Pakistan captain Babar had won the toss and opted to bat against New Zealand. During the toss, Babar confirmed that Sarfaraz Ahmed has replaced Mohammad Rizwan in the playing 11. While Mir Hamza, who was added to the squad prior to the first Test. He also returns to the Test side, having made his debut in 2018.
