New
Zealand beat Pakistan by 101 runs on Wednesday after a thrilling finish to the
first Test in Mount Maunganui, where the visitors were just 27 balls from
pulling off a battling draw.
Tail-enders Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah blocked for seven
overs in fading light before Naseem was caught and bowled by spinner Mitchell
Santner for one, ending Pakistan’s resistance.
The end for Pakistan had begun when Kyle Jamieson,
celebrating his 26th birthday, broke the 165-run fifth-wicket stand by Fawad
Alam and Mohammad Rizwan.
The victory was crucial for New Zealand, who need to sweep
the two-Test series to have a chance of making the World Test Championship
final at Lord’s in June.
Once Jamieson claimed the crucial wicket of Rizwan, lbw for
60, Neil Wagner – bowling despite breaking two toes while batting – removed
Alam for 102 and New Zealand were into the tail as Pakistan folded from 240 for
four to be all out for 271.
Jamieson produced a particularly miserly spell after the tea
break when he sent down nine overs and took two for four.
Apart from when Pakistan whipped out the New Zealand openers
cheaply on day one, the match had been in New Zealand’s control until Rizwan,
the stand-in skipper, joined Alam in the middle with Pakistan 75 for four on
the final morning.
New Zealand required six more wickets, Pakistan needed 298
runs and more than 78 overs remained.
By tea, Alam and Rizwan were still together, Pakistan had
narrowed the target to 158 in 36 overs and New Zealand still needed six
wickets.
But Jamieson removed Rizwan 11 overs into the final session.
Jamieson had gone close several times previously, and even
his lbw shout against Rizwan was turned down before the umpire’s decision was
overturned on review.
Alam, who had occupied the crease with Rizwan for more than
63 overs, lasted three more overs until he gloved a Wagner short ball to
wicketkeeper BJ Watling down the leg side.
Alam had been discarded by Pakistan in 2009 after three
Tests and a best innings of 168, and since his recall this year his highest
score was 21 against England in August.
There were a few loose shots early in his innings and a
nerve-wracking moment when a ball ricocheted off his arm and bounced
dangerously close to the stumps.
Otherwise, he staunchly held his own through 269 deliveries
before bringing up his century with a four off Wagner, but scored only two more
runs off his next 33 balls before his dismissal.
New Zealand’s frontline pace bowlers Tim Southee, Trent
Boult, Wagner, Jamieson and Santner each took two wickets.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 101 runs in the first Test in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday with the final wicket falling with just 27 balls to spare.
