Pakistan's Misbah-ul Haq became his country's most successful captain as his team strolled to victory by 248 runs in its first Test against New Zealand on Thursday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The victory gave Misbah 15 wins in 33 Tests, bettering the 14-win record of the illustrious Imran Khan (48 Tests) and Javed Miandad (34 Tests).
"It's a great feeling to be part of the winning team. It's a young team, nobody expected us to perform like this," said Misbah. "I have always believed in myself and in my team and that paid off." Pakistan had needed two wickets after their opponents resumed at 174-8 but it took only 16.3 overs for them to reach their target as New Zealand folded at 231 in 70.3 overs.
Misbah said it was nice to have a turn around after losing the Test series 2-0 in Sri Lanka in August. "Sometimes you have to be patient. It was an absolute disaster for me, I didn't get any runs in Sri Lanka and one-day series against Australia, but I kept calm through that." New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said he was disappointed. "Obviously we were clearly second in this Test match," said McCullum. "Congratulations to Misbah and his team. They were dominant in this Test match and we have a fight on our hands in the next two games. We've got to make sure we keep improving. Spin is obviously a threat but so is reverse swing."
Kiwi Mark Craig, who along with Ish Sodhi (63) had delayed Pakistan's defeat after batting for 14.5 overs on Wednesday, couldn't prolong his resistance as he was bowled by leg-spinner Yasir Shah for 28 off the first ball of the second over in the day. But Sodhi, who added 39 for the ninth wicket, further defied the bowling with a career-best knock, adding 54 runs for the last wicket with number 11 Trent Boult, who made 19 not out.
Sodhi hit seven boundaries and a six during his two-hour resistance before he was finally trapped leg-before by paceman Imran Khan, who finished with 2-37. Shah finished with 3-74, while Zulfiqar Babar and Rahat Ali took two wickets for 48 runs each. This was Pakistan's third Test win in a row after they white-washed Australia 2-0 last week, their first series win over the Aussies for 20 years.
It was again a case of Trans-Tasman neighbours Australia and New Zealand failing to cope against Asian spinners. But New Zealand still has a better record in the continent than their Aussie cousins, losing six of their 13 Tests, winning two and drawing five. Australia have lost 10 of their 15 Tests in Asia, with only one win and four draws.
Babar had taken 14 wickets and Shah 12 in Pakistan's win over Australia and the same two bowlers also came good against New Zealand as well. Babar finished with five and Shah four in the match. For Pakistan, Ahmed Shehzad hit a career best 176 and Younis Khan and Misbah smashing hundreds in the team's first innings total of 566-3 declared.
Tom Latham scored his maiden hundred for New Zealand in a paltry 262-run total in the first knock. Mohammad Hafeez scored his first hundred since July 2012 in Pakistan's second innings. The second Test starts in Dubai on November 17 while the third and final in Sharjah from November 26. The two teams will also play two Twenty20 and five one-day internationals, also in United Arab Emirates.
Scoreboard Pakistan 1st innings 566-3 declared (Ahmed Shehzad 176, Misbah-ul Haq 102 not out, Younis Khan 100 not out; C. Anderson 2-68) New Zealand 1st innings 262 (R. Latham 103; Rahat Ali 4-22, Zulfiqar Babar 3-79) Pakistan 2nd innings 175-2 dec (Mohammad Hafeez 101 not out) New Zealand 2nd innings (overnight 174-8)
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T. Latham c Y.Shah b Z.Babar 20
B. McCullum b Y.Shah 39
K. Williamson st Sarfraz b Hafeez 23
R. Taylor lbw b Y.Shah 8
C. Anderson lbw b I.Khan 23
J. Neesham c Sarfraz b Rahat 0
BJ Watling b Rahat 0
M. Craig b Y.Shah 28
T. Southee b Z.Babar 5
I. Sodhi lbw b I.Khan 63
T. Boult not out 19
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Extras: (b1, lb2) 3
Total: (all out; 70.3 overs) 231
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Fall of wickets: 1-57 (Latham), 2-61 (McCullum), 3-69 (Taylor), 4-111 (Williamson), 5-112 (Neesham), 6-112 (Watling), 7-121 (Anderson), 8-138 (Southee), 9-177 (Craig), 9-177 (Craig)
Bowling: Rahat Ali 11-1-48-2, Imran Khan 10.3-1-37-2, Z. Babar 24-6-48-2, Y. Shah 18-1-74-3, Hafeez 7-0-21-1
Result: Pakistan won by 248 runs
Toss: Pakistan
Umpires: Rodney Tucker (AUS) and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI)
TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Second Test starts in Dubai from November 17.
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