Sarfraz's gritty ton powers Pakistan to 392-9
ByReuters
Published 20/11/2014 at 09:02 GMT
Sarfraz Ahmed struck a defiant century and added 80 runs for the unbroken last wicket to power Pakistan to 392 for nine at lunch on the penultimate day of the second test against New Zealand on Thursday.
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Image credit: Eurosport
Tim Southee's double strike had reduced Pakistan, who resumed on 281 for six, to 287 for eight in the morning and Trent Boult dismissed Zulfiqar Babar to deal another blow to Pakistan.
Sarfraz (111), however, soldiered on as he and Rahat Ali (16) dashed the Kiwis' hopes of a healthy first innings lead at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Sarfraz's patient 184 ball included 16 boundaries as Pakistan reached lunch only 11 runs behind New Zealand's first innings total of 403.
Southee had Yasir Shah caught behind in his second over of the day and the right-arm paceman dismissed Ehsan Adil in his next to peg back Pakistan.
Realising he was running out of partners, Sarfraz accelerated, hitting two fours in a Boult over but soon lost Babar too at the other end.
An undaunted Sarfraz hit off-spinner Mark Craig for three boundaries in an over and meted out the same treatment to leg-spinner Ish Sodhi in the next over to storm into the 90s.
The wicketkeeper-batsman cut Southee past gully for a boundary to register his third test century and broke into an animated celebration which ended with the batsman kissing the turf.
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