Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2018: 2nd Test – Statistical Highlights

After a dramatic collapse that saw Pakistan lose the first Test by four runs, the Sarfraz Ahmed-led team bounced back with an innings win over New Zealand to square the series. Pakistan rode on Haris Sohail (147) and Babar Azam (127*) centuries after electing to bat first. However, they made an interesting declaration on scoring 418/5 after playing for 167 overs.

Yasir Shah picked up an 8-wicket haul in New Zealand’s first innings to bundle them out to just 90. The visiting team’s innings included as many as six ducks with only 40 runs scored after the first wicket fell. The Kiwis came up with a better batting performance in the second innings but a 6-wicket haul from Yasir restricted them to just 312; 16 runs short of the deficit.

All the key stats and numbers that were recorded during Pakistan’s innings win:

2 – Yasir Shah is only the 2nd Pakistan player to claim 14 wickets in a Test match. Imran Khan recorded figures of 14/116 in the 1982 Lahore Test against Sri Lanka.

Stats: New Zealand’s collapse against Pakistan in the Dubai Test

3 – This Test is only the third time Pakistan have enforced the follow-on in a Test match in the last 22 years. They enforced follow-on in the 2002 Lahore Test also against New Zealand and in this year’s Test against Ireland which was only a 4-day fixture due to rain.

10 – Yasir Shah dismissed ten out of the 11 New Zealand players at least once in this game. He couldn’t dismiss Colin de Grandhomme in both the innings as Hasan Ali claimed the all-rounder’s wicket.

Abdul Qadir in the 1987 Lahore Test against England and Waqar Younis in the 1990 Faisalabad Test against New Zealand are the two players to dismiss all 11 opposition players in a Test. Imran Khan in the 1982 Lahore Test against Sri Lanka also dismissed ten different opposition batsmen.

14/184 – Yasir Shah’s match figures of 14/184 are the 3rd best for a leg-spinner in Test cricket. Narendra Hirwani took 16/136 in the 1988 Chennai Test against the Windies while Anil Kumble took 14/149 against Pakistan in the 1999 Delhi Test.

14/184 – The figures of 14/184 by Yasir are the best for any player in a Test match against New Zealand. Courtney Walsh’s 13/55 in the 1995 Wellington Test were the previous best Test match figures for any player against the Kiwis.

14 – Yasir’s figures are also the joint-best for any bowler in Test cricket in the last 17 years. Rangana Herath also took 14/184 against Pakistan in the 2014 Colombo Test. No one before Yasir took more than 11 wickets in a single Test match in the United Arab Emirates.

195 – Number of wickets Yasir Shah has claimed in his Test career thus far. His 195 wickets are the most for any player at the end of the 32nd Test match. Sydney Barnes bagged 189 scalps in the 27 Tests he played. Waqar Younis stands next to Barnes with 187 wickets.

418/5 – Pakistan’s total of 418/5 is their lowest total in the first innings of a Test match in which they won by an innings margin. They made 459/9 in the 1995 Peshawar Test against Sri Lanka which they won by innings and 40 runs.