Mickey Arthur’s facial expression plotted against Pakistan’s predicament wasn’t the only geometry Abu Dhabi had to offer. The fourth day’s play was a major throwback to the many run-chases Pakistan have barbecued over the years, and a testament to how they can still manage to, putting the consistency of a clock and the boredom of our lives to shame. Needing 139 with ten wickets in hand at the start of day’s play, Pakistan anaesthetised a 82-run partnership between Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali to be bowled out for 171, handing New Zealand a thrilling, even unexpected, four-run win.
Debuting left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel racked up his maiden five-wicket haul, which always looked imminent once he beat Mohammad Hafeez three times in the first over of the day. Two maidens in a row bought a wicket in the third, when Imam-ul-Haq, who had raced Pakistan’s chase off the block just last evening, was pinned LBW in front.
Ish Sodhi backed up with two wickets in the next over, scalping Hafeez at cover and Haris Sohail caught-and-bowled to set the cat among the pigeons. While Azhar Ali tried to hold the innings together with a fighting half-century, he wasn’t supported much by the lower order batsmen who threw their wickets away while attempting to blaze to glory. Azhar’s fight, however, didn’t last the distance as he was the last to depart, with the DRS failing to come to his aid.
