Twitter Reactions: New Zealand closes in on an important win

Published - 19 Nov 2016, 12:13 IST | Updated - 19 Nov 2016, 12:13 IST

3 Min Read

In spite of the fact that New Zealand is closing in on a much-needed win, it seems quite clear that the seamers from both sides will have the final say in the Test match. In that capacity, the day well and truly belonged to the pacers. All 10 New Zealand wickets were claimed by the Pakistan pacers and the seven Pakistani wickets that fell were claimed by the Kiwi pace battery.

The day began with a bevy of the host wickets falling in a hurry. However, in spite of this, there were a few pockets of resistance in the form of Neil Wagner and Trent Boult. The former was one of the important parts of the New Zealand lineup when he impressed with some hard-hitting.

The Pakistan innings was salvaged after it got off of to a terrible start when the Kiwis wrecked the batting lineup. It was in fact, the impressive Babar Azam and Azhar Ali who made amends with some clinical batting, something that was certainly not expected.

In spite of losing wickets at regular intervals, the Pakistanis managed some impressive performances with the bat as Sohail Khan smashed the ball to different parts of Christchurch towards the end of the day’s play. Here are some of the best tweets following the close of play on Day 3.

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What a horror show! 66 overs of snoozefest 129 for 7. After the 1st inns disaster they overcompensated and created another disaster#NZvPAK
— Emmad Hameed (@Emmad81) November 19, 2016

https://twitter.com/Cricketracker/status/799852086686945280

https://twitter.com/omairraslam/status/799850022300950528

No run! #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/tJoVzUQEaS
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) November 19, 2016

Pakistan's plan was to spend time at the wicket, but such a mindset should not trigger the intention to execute poor shots. #NZvPak
— Faisal Caesar (@faisalyorker) November 19, 2016

If 11 players bat like Sohail then the score be 180+ right now.. no matter all out because on such pitches play like BAZ #NZvPAK
— Ahsan Ghzali (@MrGhzali) November 19, 2016

Azhar Ali's strike rate of 17.91 is the lowest for any Pakistan opener facing 100 or more balls. Prev lowest: 18.18 by Sadiq Mhd v Eng 1978.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 19, 2016

Pakistan's slowest innings run rate is 1.03 when they made 87 off 83.5 overs vs England at Lord's, 1954 #NZvPAK
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 19, 2016

Lowest totals by PAK after 50 overs in Tests(since 2000)
80-3 v NZ today
83-4 v SL, Sharjah '11
88-3 v RSA, Durban '02
91-4 v SL, Galle '14
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 19, 2016

Pakistan's pace bowlers picked up New Zealand's last 7 wickets for 95 runs #NZvPAK #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/taimoorz1/status/799840856031318017

13 wickets yesterday, 14 today. All 27 wickets to fast bowlers. This match, like Hobart, has the potential to be over in seven sessions.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 19, 2016

The shots played by Misbah-ul-Haq at Lord's, Sharjah and now Christchurch are very uncharacteristic of him. #PakvNZ
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 19, 2016

Fewest Tests to 100 wkts for New Zealand
25 Richard Hadlee
26 Neil Wagner
27 Bruce Taylor#NZvPak
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 19, 2016

Younis Khan's last three innings are 1, 2, 0. The last time in his career he had three consecutive inns in single digit was in 2007. #PakvNZ
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 19, 2016

3 for 43 for Mohammad Aamir – his best bowling figures in Tests since return. #NZvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 18, 2016

Just the third time in last 12 years that Pakistan pacers have accounted for 10 wickets in an inns. The other two: Sydney 2010, Oval 2016.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 18, 2016