Twitter goes ballistic as Yasir Shah runs through New Zealand with an eight-wicket haul

Pakistan were criticized for not forcing the play while batting first despite being 0-1 down in the series. After batting for 167 overs, they only mustered 418 runs for the loss of five wickets and to everyone’s surprise, declared which at one stage looked like a below-par total. But a certain Yasir Shah, after a spell of rain on the third day, came into the attack and just ran through New Zealand‘s batting line-up to dismantle them for just 90 runs in the first innings.

After seeing through the tricky period on the second evening, Jeet Raval and Tom Latham put on a 50-run stand batting for close to 22 overs. The former went to play an extravagant stroke and in the process, was castled by the leggie Yasir. However, little did Raval knew about the procession that was about to follow after his wicket. Kane Williamson, the calm personality, entered the scene only to watch his troops follow one after the other from the other end.

After Raval, it was Latham who was sent back by Yasir and in the same over, he went on to castle Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls to leave the Kiwis shocked. The delivery bowled to Taylor was absolute magic. The accurate leg-break pitched on middle stump as the batsman tried to defend all around the ball. Meanwhile, the red cherry just turned enough to uproot the off-stump.

Procession continues

Yasir Shah was doing his usual stuff though. He normally struggles to scalp his first wicket and then rides on the confidence to pick a few more in quick succession. After sending back the top-order, Yasir proved to be too good for the tail-enders. He was just toying with them with every delivery and snaffled them with his variations. With 0/22, the Pakistan leg-spinner ended up with the magical figures of 8/41.

New Zealand were bundled out effectively for 40 runs as they were 50/0 in the 22nd over. The innings lasted for only 35.3 overs with Yasir Shah bowling almost 13 overs. At the moment, Pakistan have enforced a follow-on on the Kiwis and the 32-year-old will once again look to wreck havoc in the opposition camp.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to a mind-boggling spell:

New Zealand have lost 10 wickets in 14 overs! And Yasir Shah has 8-41. Has to be among the great collapses in history. https://t.co/T5brj2vhHT

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 26, 2018

YA8IR SHAH – What a spell.

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 26, 2018

New Zealand's last 9 wickets fell for just 29 runs against Pakistan in the 2nd Test at Dubai:

W.W.W…1.1….W.3.3…W3………..W.W.lb43114.4W.W

Equalling the record for the most ducks in a Test innings with 6 #PAKvNZ

— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) November 26, 2018

Lowest totals after 50+ opening stand (Tests):

90 NZ v Pak, Dubai, 2018 (1st wkt: 50) *
102 NZ v SL, Colombo SSC, 1992 (58)
103 SA v Eng, Durban, 1939 (60)
105 Eng v Aus, MCG, 1908 (58)
107 Aus v SA, Cape Town, 2018 (57)#PAKvNZ

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 26, 2018

Only twice in Test history a team has lost 10 wickets for 40 runs or less after a 50 runs opening stand. Both times it was Pakistan's bowling and both times it was NZ's batting.

50-0 to 90 all out today
91-0 to 131 all out, Auckland, 2001

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 26, 2018

6 ducks in New Zealand’s innings today, jointly the most ducks in an innings. Overall, it’s the 5th time when a team had six ducks in an innings.

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) November 26, 2018

That’s officially the lowest total in Test History after a 50+ opening stand. #PAKvNZL

— Gautam Bhimani (@gbhimani) November 26, 2018

What a sensational spell from Yasir Shah. NZ having no clue against his tricks. After being 50/0 , 90 all out.
Yasir is a special leg-spinner and has so much more to achieve #PakvNZ

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 26, 2018

Best figures for Pakistani bowlers in a Test innings:
Abdul Qadir 9/56 against England
Sarfraz Nawaz 9/86 against Australia
Yasir Shah 8/41 against New Zealand today#PAKvNZ #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 26, 2018

189 Test wickets…
in 27 Tests – Sydney Barnes (Eng)
in 49 Tests – Erapalli Prasanna (Ind)
in 32+ Tests – Yasir Shah (Pak)
+ in progress#PakvNZ

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 26, 2018

Over in Dubai, NZ have gone from 50-0 to 90 all out – Yasir Shah 8 for 41. Nos 4-11 contributed five between them.

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) November 26, 2018

Yasir Shah becomes first player to take 100 Test wickets in UAE. Well done @Shah64Y!! pic.twitter.com/cBii4v4SZl

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) November 26, 2018

Some very interesting Test Cricket going on. SL’s last wicket fighting it out now needing 43 more after the last wicket has put on 58.
And NZ losing 10 wickets in 14 overs courtesy an outstanding spell from Yasir Shah

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 26, 2018

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