Pakistan continues it’s fight to avoid loss in first Test after Williamson double ton

 

New Zealand are playing their first Test Series after 20 years. After New Zealand took the upper hand, Pakistan will need to bat out the final day to avoid losing in the first Test. Pakistan concluded the fourth day on a shaky 77-2, down by 174 runs after the first innings, with Imam-ul-Haq on 45 and night watchman Nauman Ali on four. Pakistan has now behind England by 97 runs with eight wickets intact after losing their last four Tests, including a first-ever 3-0 whitewash.

The job of salvaging a tie for the host team should not be difficult on a National Stadium field that has not yet taken a severe turn, but their recent proclivity for middle-order failures has offered New Zealand a scent of victory.

 

Opener Abdullah Shafique was the first wicket to fall, caught at mid on for 17 after playing an injudicious lofted shot off spinner Michael Bracewell. Then Shan Masood was adjudged leg before off Ish Sodhi for 10 before Haq and Nauman brought the day to a close. Earlier, Williamson's undefeated double century helped the tourists declare their first innings on 612-9, a healthy 174-run lead over Pakistan's 438.

Williamson scored 200 after batting for ten hours and belting 21 boundaries and a six in an innings in which he overturned two leg-before rulings on 13 and 116. On 15 and 21, he was similarly stumped by spinner Nauman.

Williamson and Sodhi battled Pakistani bowling in the opening session, taking the total to 595 when their seventh wicket stand was broken. Sodhi was caught off Ahmed for 65 yards, breaking his previous record set in 2018 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

 

Milestone

As New Zealand lost three wickets in the space of two runs, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner fell without scoring, but last man Ajaz Patel held his ground to help Williamson achieve the milestone. It's good to be a part of a number of partnerships that have given us a competitive total and put us in a reasonable position is what Williamson thought at the moment who has now scored a double century in each of the last four seasons. But he still thought it would be difficult to force a victory. as he realizes there will be a lot of hard effort and patience required to make the best use of the surface aid.

 

Pakistan spinner Ahmed who bowled England's Root out in his debut Test in Multan. He lamented the pitch's lack of help. Whether you're a mystery spinner or whatever, you need some support from the pitch, but when you don't receive any help, it's difficult to get wickets he explained. He did, however, compliment Williamson. he said I've bowled against (Joe) Root, but the manner Williamson has batted shows how brilliant he is. As Williamson is exceptional and effortlessly plays good balls. Nauman Ali took 3-185 and Ahmed finished with 5-205, his second five-wicket haul.