KARACHI: The first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan ended in a draw at Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena on Friday.
The home side, having conceded a lead of 174, declared their second innings at 311-8 in the final session of the contest at Karachi’s National Stadium.
That left New Zealand needing 138 runs for victory from the final 15 overs and the tourists raced to 61-1 before bad light forced a draw.
Earlier, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi registered his first five-wicket haul as New Zealand pressed for victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Karachi.
The 30-year-old, playing his first Test in four years, turned the match in New Zealand’s favor with three wickets in the post-lunch session to leave Pakistan on 249-7 at tea on the fifth and final day.
Sodhi took advantage of a weary last-day National Stadium pitch with figures of 5-66.
He dismissed Sarfaraz Ahmed (53), Agha Salman (six) and Imamul Haq (96) in the space of 27 balls for the addition of just 21 runs.
Haq and Sarfaraz had added a defiant 85 runs for the fifth wicket and raised hopes of salvaging a draw for the home team before Sodhi struck.
He had Sarfaraz caught behind, bowled Salman, then got Haq stumped to leave Pakistan on 206-7.
Haq, who survived lbw referrals off the bowler on 58 and 74, cracked 10 boundaries and a six in his sixth half-century, while Sarfaraz had seven hits to the rope.
Resuming on 77-2, Pakistan lost nightwatchman Nauman Ali early, trapped leg-before by spinner Michael Bracewell.
Then skipper Babar Azam — who scored 161 in Pakistan’s first innings of 438 – was out the same way to Sodhi for 14.
The second Test, also in Karachi, begins on Monday.
