Twitter Reactions: Pakistan meander along at snail’s pace in Dubai
Sohail and Azhar's partnership staged a comeback for the home team.
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After the heartbreak in Abu Dhabi against New Zealand in the first Test, Pakistan would’ve been shattered. In the second Test in Dubai, Sarfraz Ahmed and Co played with utmost caution and ended the first day’s play with the score at 207 for the loss of four wickets. On the other hand, the Black Caps would be satisfied for the reason that they didn’t allow the Pakistani batsmen get away easily.
Azhar and Sohail dominate
The home team won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first, but the start wasn’t great for them by any means. Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammed Hafeez played out seven overs and looked determined to survive the initial burst from Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme. However, both perished in quick succession as Grandhomme was able to dismiss both the batsmen in single digits.
Thereafter, Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail put their heads down to resurrect the innings. Both played out 18 overs before Lunch and Pakistan ended the session with 56/2. Both players carried on the good work in the second session as well. In the meantime, Azhar accomplished a patient half-century and with Sohail accompanying him at 37, Pakistan went into Tea with the score at 124/2 in 59 overs.
Sohail holds fort
The final session started on an impressive note for the hosts as Azhar and Sohail didn’t play a single shot out of anger. Sohail also went on to rack up a fifty. Just when it seemed as if Sarfraz’s men would end the day without any hiccup, Azhar succumbed to a run-out courtesy of a mix-up with Sohail. He went after scoring 81 runs from 187 balls and the Kiwis would’ve breathed a sigh of relief.
The dismissal also brought an end to a 126-run stand. Asad Shafiq was the fourth wicket to fall and he became left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel’s first victim. It was then up to Sohail and Babar Azam to end Pakistan’s day without any more wicket and they did so with an unbeaten stand of 33 from 54 deliveries. Sohail remained not out on 81 from 240 balls with 10 boundaries with Babar on 14 runs.
Here is how Twitter reacted
Different format and different conditions but perhaps one of the reasons why Test cricket isn't so popular in some places:
Yesterday in the T10 League Northern Warriors scored 183/2 in 10 overs.
Today Pakistan have scored 207/4 in 90 overs.#PAKvNZ #T10League
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 24, 2018
207-4 in 90 overs by Pakistan today – the second lowest total on day-one in Tests in UAE. Lowest is 203 between Pak and Eng in Dubai in 2012. #PakvNZ
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 24, 2018
Not a bad considering how this pitch has behaved for the spinners. Well done to Azhar & Haris for their innings. 300 will be a competitive score. #PAKvNZ
— Affan 🏴 (@mufc_affanf9) November 24, 2018
End of irritating day #pakvnz
— Mrdil (@Mrdil15) November 24, 2018
Not sure who is more slow
Snail, @PTCLOfficial internet or Pakistan's batting run rate !! #PAKvNZ— 🇵🇰 (@Ha_ph_ca) November 24, 2018
@babarazam258 class is incomparable in this batting line up. He is being wasted at No 6. #PakvNZ
— awais (@AwaisMof) November 24, 2018
– sluggish batting display by Pakistan in Dubai! #PAKvNZ
— Abdullah (@SaidByAbdullah) November 24, 2018
Yesterday in #T10League 183/2 in 10 overs~
First day of #PAKvNZ test in whole 90 overs~ 207/4#Just_Saying— Dude from Phogatpur (@subedi_parjal) November 24, 2018
We need Jonny Bairstow kinda middle order batsman in our team..#SLvENG #PakVNz
— Ayesha Qureshi (@ayeshaqureshi26) November 24, 2018
Pakistan are 207 – 4 at stumps , day 1 . Well done kiwi bowlers…..#PAKvNZ
— Praveen Reddy (@im_praveen49) November 24, 2018
Way patches are brushing off, Dubai Test could even turn more interesting than AbuDhabi one. Though slow but good amount of runs on th board in first Inns will help Pakistan ahead as it looks th pitch would start tilting heavily in favor of Spinners in sessions ahead.🇵🇰🏏#PAKvNZ
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) November 24, 2018
83 runs from the last session a good session for Pakistan #PAKvNZ
— Aqib Mansoor (@AqibMansoor5) November 24, 2018
Babar smashing this NZL field out of the park 🔥 #PAKvNZ
— – (@AqeelSays_) November 24, 2018
Disappointed with our batting !#PAKvNZ
— خان (@Cashefkhan) November 24, 2018
Can we have extra half hour Pakistan Batsman are scoring Runs #PAKvNZ @ZAbbasOfficial @DrNaumanNiaz @iramizraja @SarfarazA_54 @TheRealPCB @MuhammadWasim77
— Bilal (@Bilal75323826) November 24, 2018
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