NZ vs PAK 2016 1st Test: Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson Lead Hosts To A Comfortable Eight-Wicket Win
Nov 20, 2016 at 10:30 AM
New Zealand beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the first Test at Christchurch to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Chasing 105 for a victory, Jeet Raval and Kane Williamson stitched together a partnership of 85 runs to take their team home.
Earlier, resuming their innings on 129 for 7, Asad Shafiq and Sohail Khan gave visitors some hope by adding 53 runs for the eighth wicket. The partnership extended Pakistan’s lead over 100-run mark but it was never going to be enough to challenge the Kiwis in familiar conditions. Sohail Khan, who unleashed an array of shots on the third evening, started the morning in same fashion and collected seven runs off the first two balls. The visitors’ intent of collecting some quick runs was clearly visible as they scored 23 runs off the first four overs. However, their fightback was given a big setback when Sohail’s promising innings of 40 was cut short by Tim Southee’s short ball. Pakistan’s innings ended soon as Shafiq and Rahat Ali fell 13 runs later after Sohail’s dismissal. New Zealand’s pace trio of Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Trent Boult took three wickets apiece while first innings hero Colin de Grandhomme grabbed one.
Chasing a tricky target, the Kiwis lost their opener Tom Latham early. Both he and Raval made a cautious start and although the scoring rate was quite slow, they managed to keep the Pakistani pacers at bay. But their resistance was finally broken when Latham hit a short delivery from Mohammad Amir straight to Asad Shafiq at gully. Kane Williamson and Raval ensured that the hosts reached the target without any further hiccup. The New Zealand skipper unleashed a range of shots to kick Pakistan out of the game. The right-handed batsman was finally out after scoring 61 off 77 balls. He was dismissed when the scores were level and the winnings runs were fittingly hit by Raval, who remained unbeaten on 36.
The second match will start on November 25 in Hamilton.
Brief scores: Pakistan 133 & 171 (Sohail Khan 40; Trent Boult 3-37, Tim Southee 3-53, Neil Wagner 3-34) lost to New Zealand 200 & 108/2 (Kane Williamson 61, Jeet Raval 36*) by eight wickets.