PAK vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 1: Stumps Pakistan 317 for 5 (Babar 161*, Sarfaraz 86, Bracewell 2-61, Patel 2-91) vs New Zealand

Day one of Pakistan’s first Test against New Zealand featured Babar Azam’s ninth Test century and Sarfaraz Ahmed’s historic comeback innings. The hosts posted 317 for 5 thanks to their 196-run fifth-wicket stand.

The pair met up when Pakistan were in an awkward place of 110 for 4 preceding lunch, yet batted almost through till stumps, making due for very nearly two full meetings. Sarfaraz’s 86, his first Test score in nearly four years and his first on home soil, was just as memorable as Babar’s unbeaten 161, which increased his Test average to more than 50.

However, Pakistan’s decision to bat had led to a disastrous start to the day. The very first time a Test began with two stumping dismissals, Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood were both stumped off Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell, respectively. Both fell prey by coming down the track as the new ball was turning on the moist Karachi pitch at the time. Pakistan appeared to have forfeited their toss advantage when Imam-ul-Haq fell for 24 at the end of the first hour, putting the score at 48 to 3.

Babar and Saud Shakeel did, however, make a brief comeback in a 62-run stand to propel Pakistan past 100

But before lunch, the latter lost by just one over for 22. The first session truly belonged to New Zealand thanks to that fourth wicket, but the visitors had no idea they would have to wait nearly five hours for their next moment of celebration.

Babar Azam knocked a fighting hundred and the recalled Sarfaraz Ahmed hit a half-century to guide Pakistan to a healthy 317-5 on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand

🔗https://t.co/HGSAIxF0WS#DialoguePakistan #BabarAzam #SaifiBhai #SarfarazAhmed #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/nDfRVjhaZL

— Dialogue Pakistan (@DialoguePak) December 26, 2022

Babar had a chance to run out in the first over after lunch and was given a life at 12 when Daryl Mitchell dropped him at first slip, but other than that, the Pakistan captain dominated the New Zealand bowlers. He really took advantage of a surface that turned harmless following an interesting first hour to turn on to his 100 years, arriving at the triple figures with a six over profound midwicket.

Utilizing Tim Southee’s tailing deliveries, the unsuccessful leg-side line offered by Neil Wagner, and the balls turning in from Bracewell, Babar scored a total of 83 runs in front of square on the leg side. In an inning that has seen 15 fours and the lone six thus far, his most productive shot, the flick, earned him 56 runs.

Babar started his innings by staying inside the crease and playing off the back foot, but as the degree of turn decreased, he switched to playing on the front foot and appeared more confident. Babar, along with Sarfaraz, dominated the second session, trusting the pitch’s lack of excessive bounce with the exception of the occasional ball that stayed low.

When it came to Sarfaraz, who was playing his first Test since January 2019 and his first at home, the sweep was the most successful early on. He used the shot against the spinners brilliantly even when Patel got the ball to turn away from him. However, Sarfaraz’s innings was a little streaky, with edges down to deep third when chasing wide deliveries from seamers or squares when good-length deliveries held their line.

He also overcame a hip injury when he was in his forties to reach his 19th Test half-century. The physio had to treat the injury, but the longer he batted after that, it seemed to bother him less.

Even though the Karachi pitch seemed to be docile, New Zealand’s attack got worse as the partnership got bigger. Despite Southee’s efforts to reverse the ball, the angle frequently sent it down the leg side, allowing both batters to score at fine leg. With the two batters not bothered by his leg-theory plan, Wagner paid the price for straying too much on leg from over the stumps. Despite New Zealand applying pressure with multiple fielders under the helmet, Ish Sodhi, Bracewell, and Ajaz were comfortably tackled as the ball got old. Between lunch and tea, the duo added 109 runs total. Pakistan’s rate of run scoring fell after tea due to the older, softer ball. The pace of play slowed down, and defensive shots were used once more.

Wagner attempted to challenge them by going around the stumps and over the wicket, but he was unsuccessful. He and Southee briefly pleaded with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell to get up, but that also had no effect. Each of the three spinners, regardless of tracking down turn as the day progressed, were not sufficiently penetrative and by and large went for a combined economy of more than four for every over.

After 80 overs, New Zealand, as expected, received the new ball, and as the sun set, it appeared as though the partnership would continue unbroken until stumps. However, in the 86th over, Sarfaraz edged Patel to the first slip and fell for 86, ending the nearly 200-run partnership.

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When Aleem Dar ruled Babar lbw off the final over of the day, Patel almost had a third wicket. Babar, on the other hand, took the DRS, and it revealed that Patel’s delivery was bouncing a little too much. Devon Conway and Kane Williamson gave Babar a handshake as he left the court with a 161 score and Agha Salman, who was unbeaten on 3, by his side.