(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) While both teams came up with moments of great quality in the second Test it was New Zealand that won your heart.
Taylor celebrates his century as Mark Craig applauds during the final day of the 2nd Test in Dubai. — AFP
Dubai — The depressing sight of empty stands delightfully gave way to jubilant and colourful Pakistani fans that occupied one side of the magnificent Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Each New Zealand wicket was cheered and each Pakistani run was greeted with a thunderous applause as this Test match that had many a twist failed to produce one final moment of drama.
While both teams came up with moments of great quality in the second Test it was New Zealand that won your heart. Having suffered a humiliating 248-run defeat in the first Test in Abu Dhabi the Kiwis rose like a phoenix in Dubai matching their more illustrious opponents in all departments. In fact Ross Taylor’s 12 Test hundred in the morning — a brilliant second innings effort — meant they finished the match with two centurions compared to Pakistan’s one in this drawn affair.
In the end even the mighty Younis Khan (44 84 balls two fours three sixes) failed to lift Pakistan — who were chasing 261 in 72 overs — on a wicket where the odd ball that pitched on the rough did funny things. Younis certainly wasn’t amused when he danced down the wicket to hit his fourth six off Mark Craig but the ball bounced awkwardly beating him all ends up kissing his glove and landing in the safe hands of Taylor in the first slip. With that wicket Pakistan’s hopes were well and truly dashed and New Zealand would now be brimming with confidence ahead of the decider at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
When the umpires removed the bails Pakistan — despite the spirited efforts from Asad Shafiq (41 not out 116 balls six fours) and first innings centurion Sarfraz Ahmed (24 not out 23 balls three fours) — fell 65 runs short of the target finishing their second innings at 196 for five in 67 overs after New Zealand had declared their own second innings at 250/9. Shan Masood (40 95 balls one four two sixes) probably did enough to cement his place at the top order with an impressive innings in the second innings that raised hopes of a win. But his dismissal sparked a mini collapse — Pakistan went from 70 for one to 75 for four in four overs.
New Zealand too needed their own rescuer when the day’s play began in the morning. And in Ross Taylor (104 133 balls 12 fours) who resumed at his overnight score of 77 they had somebody was willing to curb his attacking instinct for the sake of the team. Taylor never looked in trouble against pace and spin. And he never missed a chance as well to score rotating the strike with ease.
Taylor soon reached a significant milestone when he pushed Ehsan Adil for a quick single to bring up a wonderful century. It was his 12th Test hundred in his 59th match.
Craig on the other once again showed his ability with the bat even though was dropped by Taufeeq Umar. Yasir Shah (5-79) brought Pakistan back into the game by dismissing both Taylor and Craig in the same over and took the first five-wicket haul of his career. Tim Southee’s big hits took the lead to 260. Brendon McCullum then sportingly declared the innings.
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