Fawad, Rizwan’s epic resistance ends in heartbreak as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 101 runs

Mount Maunganui: Fawad Alam’s second Test century and Mohammad Rizwan’s fifth Test fifty went in vain as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 101 runs on the fifth day of the first Test of the two-match ICC World Test Championship series being played at the Bay Oval Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.

Resuming their innings on an overnight score of 71 for three, Azhar Ali got dismissed on the ninth ball of the day after scoring 38 off 120 balls, hitting four boundaries. Fawad Alam was then joined by captain Rizwan in the 40^th over with 75 runs on the board.

The duo showed resistance and discipline and kept the scoreboard ticking. At one point, the tourists were on course of attempting a win as on tea interval, they were 215 for four in 92 overs, with 158 runs required from 36 overs.

After tea, left-handed Fawad bought up his second Test century in the 98^th over of the innings. The pair of Fawad and Rizwan contributed 165 runs for the fifth-wicket before Rizwan got out to Kyle Jamieson on 60. The right-handed wicket-keeper batsman struck six fours from 191 balls faced. Fawad was next to go, he was dismissed for 102 from 269 balls (14 fours).

After the departure of both batsmen, Faheem (19 off 28 balls, four fours) and Shaheen Shah (eight not out off 30 balls) showed some resistance before the tourists were bowled out for 271 in 123.3 overs.

For New Zealand, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner and Trent Boult picked two wickets each.

Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the second Test of the two-match of the series at Hagley Oval in Christchurch 3 January.

Scores in brief

At Mount Maunganui, New Zealand beat Pakistan by 101 runs

New Zealand 431 all out, 155 overs (Kane Williamson 129, BJ Watling 73, Ross Taylor 70; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-109, Yasir Shah 3-113) and 180 for five declared (Tom Blundell 64, Tom Latham 53; Naseem Shah 3-55)

Pakistan 239 all out, 102.2 overs (Faheem Ashraf 91, Mohammad Rizwan 71, Kyle Jamieson 3-35, Neil Wagner 2-50) and 271 all out, 123.3 overs (Fawad Alam 102, Mohammad Rizwan 60, Azhar Ali 38; Tim Southee 2-33, Kyle Jamieson 2-35, Mitchell Santner 2-52, Neil Wagner 2-55, Trent Boult 2-72)