'Naa jeetein gaye, na jeetne denge'- Twitter fumes as exhilarating Karachi Test between Pakistan and New Zealand ends in draw

Pak vs NZ (Source: Twitter)

New Zealand and Pakistan clashed against each other at the National Stadium in Karachi. Pakistan played well as a unit to rack up 438 runs in the first innings. The Men in Green were in trouble at 48-3 when Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed came to the crease. Babar scored a majestic 161 off 280 balls with 15 fours and one six. 

He took the attack to the New Zealand bowlers. Sarfaraz on his 50th Test, proved all his detractors wrong by scoring a valuable 86 off 153 balls with nine fours. Agha Salman also joined the party by playing a wonderful innings of103 off 155 balls with 17 fours.

Then came the New Zealand reply, Tom Latham smashed a 113 off 191 balls with 10 fours. Devon Conway made a superb 92 off 176 with 14 fours. Kane Williamson played a magical knock of 200 off 395 balls with 21 fours and 1 six. Daryl Mitchell chipped in with 42 off 47 with 7 fours and 1 six.

Ish Sodhi provided able support down the order and grinded it out with Williamson to score 65 off 180 balls with 11 fours. This allowed the Kiwis to score 612-9 in their innings. The Kiwis had a 174 run lead. In the second innings, the Pakistan batting came to the party again.

Imam-ul-Haq smashed 96 off 206 with 10 fours and one six. Sarfaraz was once again among the runs as he scored 53 off 76 with seven fours.  Saud Shakeel joined the party and scored a valuable 55 off 118 balls with seven fours and one six. Mohammad Wasim played a good hand with 43 off 57 balls with five fours and one six.

Pakistan declared at 311 for 8 on Day 5. The Kiwis were set a target of 137 in just 15 overs. The New Zealand batters switched gears and played in T20 mode with Devon Conway scoring 18 off 16 balls with two fours. Tom Latham made a quickfire 35 off 24 balls with three fours and one six

The match ended in a draw, although it was a thrilling contest, both the teams were denied to fight it out in the end due to bad light. Twitter was abuzz, let us take a look at the reactions here.

There is a little difference between brave and stupid... This decision from babar azam was stupid#PakvsNZ

— War. Mehran (@mehran_war) December 30, 2022

#PakvsNZ dumbest captain i have seen in my three decades of cricket fan. Saved by bad light in the end. I mean team came in draw position from a losing position and he is declaring with 17 overs remaining. NZ pounced at the opportunity...

— Bilal Anwar (@bilalanwar717) December 30, 2022

#PakvsNZ

𝗞𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗼𝗻 has been awarded with the Player of the Match in the 1st Test played at Karachi for his 💯💯. His 5th one in Tests so far. #CricketTwitter #Cricket #TestCricket #KaneWilliamson #ICCRankings pic.twitter.com/oPcM9aYDEc

— Deepak Blessed Kumar 🇮🇳🦋 (@cricstatsbydeep) December 30, 2022

Babar AZAM said hamne poore match mein dominate kiya, oo bhai kiski chhat pe dominate kiya, is word ka matlab pata bhi hai babar ko. Please give english classes to BABAR #PakvsNZ

— Devilboy619 (@devnishant707) December 30, 2022

Declaring innings when the chances of winning are virtually nonexistent and the odds of losing are greater is the most absurd decision.
Had PAK and NZ had an equal chance of winning, it would have been a daring choice.#PakvsNZ #karachitest #BabarAzam𓃵

— Thepoeticword (@OtherAvenger) December 30, 2022

"Dekhen ji humney dominate kiya" hai bolega Babar 🤣🤣🤣🤣#PakvsNZ

— Atif (@AmaanAtif_27) December 30, 2022

Babar Azam : Aa.. Definitely... blah blah blah blah#PakvsNZ #TestCricket #BabarAzam

— Himanshu Badola (@himu_077) December 30, 2022

Aleem Dar saving his countrymen from 5 straight loss in test match this year#PakvsNZ

— Priya 🌸❄ (@priya_jajoo) December 30, 2022

Anyways, draw hogyaa #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/UhOzvHPzdB

— Sidra⁵⁶ PCTfan🇵🇰 (@SidCricketlover) December 30, 2022

Babar Azam dant aisay nikal rah hay jesay test match jeet lia hay.. the small mind was thinking nothing else but a draw yet so happy.. loser mindset !#PakvsNZ #draw #BabarAzam𓃵

— Qas (@Qaisartalaat) December 30, 2022