YASIR SHAH BREAKS 82-YEAR-OLD RECORD WITH 200TH TEST WICKET AS KIWIS GO INTO LUNCH ON 112/4
A decisive fourth day of the Third Test of the Oye Hoye 2018 Pakistan vs New Zealand Test Series presented by Brighto Paints, kicked off this morning, as New Zealand returned to the crease on 26/2 with plenty of work to do.
William Somerville and Kane Williamson were under no illusion of the task ahead in order to secure a Black Cap’s victory. The first five overs this morning saw them only manage to rack up six runs, as Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Yasir Shah wouldn’t let the batsmen out of the blocks with their stern bowling and the team’s ardent fielding.
Just six overs in (the start of the 21st) Shah sent Somerville back to the dug-out and celebrated taking his 200th wicket in only 33 Tests: three Tests faster than Australian cricketer Clarrie Grimmet –coincidently another leg-spinner – seeing Shah break an 82-year-old record set by Grimmet.
Replacement Ross Taylor and Williamson seemed unfazed in the following over chalking up 14 nerve-calming runs.
However it was short-lived with Taylor falling next, (merely two overs later), as Afridi fed an enticing ball that lead to Taylor slugging it into the hands of Bilal Asif, down on the square leg boundary.
New Zealand looked to be on the ropes, however Williamson and Henry Nicholls showed signs of steadying the innings with precise and calculated batting immediately after Taylor’s dismissal.
A degree of calm then ensued from the 24th over to the 40th when lunch was called, as some steady batting saw Williamson and Nicholls find their way to 112/4.
Williamson notably hit his 50 runs half way through the 38th over, despite the barrage of bowling from Shah and Asif.
New Zealand currently hold a narrow lead of 38 runs, but Pakistan will certainly be looking to make inroads after the break.
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