Pakistan complete New Zealand rout in first Test | ||
| | ||
Abu Dhabi (AFP) - Pakistan strolled to victory by 248 runs in its first Test against New Zealand on Thursday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan had needed two wickets after their opponents resumed at 174-8 but it took only 16.3 overs for them to reach their target as New Zealand folded at 231 in 70.3 overs. Kiwi Mark Craig, who along with Ish Sodhi (63) had delayed Pakistan's defeat after batting for 14.5 overs on Wednesday, couldn't prolong his resistance as he was bowled by leg-spinner Yasir Shah for 28 off the first ball of the second over in the day. But Sodhi, who added 39 for the ninth wicket, further defied the bowling with a career-best knock, adding 54 runs for the last wicket with number 11 Trent Boult, who made 19 not out. Sodhi hit seven boundaries and a six during his two-hour resistance before he was finally trapped leg-before by paceman Imran Khan, who finished with 2-37. Shah finished with 3-74, while Zulfiqar Babar and Rahat Ali took two wickets for 48 runs each. This was Pakistan's third Test win in a row after they white-washed Australia 2-0 last week, their first series win over the Aussies for 20 years. The win also made Misbah-ul Haq Pakistan's most successful Test captain with 15 wins in 33 Tests, bettering the 14-win record of the illustrious Imran Khan (48 Tests) and Javed Miandad (34 Tests). It was again a case of Trans-Tasman neighbours Australia and New Zealand failing to cope against Asian spinners. But New Zealand still has a better record in the continent than their Aussie cousins, losing six of their 13 Tests, winning two and drawing five. Australia have lost 10 of their 15 Tests in Asia, with only one win and four draws. Babar had taken 14 wickets and Shah 12 in Pakistan's win over Australia and the same two bowlers also came good against New Zealand as well. Babar finished with five and Shah four in the match. For Pakistan, Ahmed Shehzad hit a career best 176 and Younis Khan and Misbah smashing hundreds in the team's first innings total of 566-3 declared. Tom Latham scored his maiden hundred for New Zealand in a paltry 262-run total in the first knock. Mohammad Hafeez scored his first hundred since July 2012 in Pakistan's second innings. The second Test starts in Dubai on November 17 while the third and final in Sharjah from November 26. The two teams will also play two Twenty20 and five one-day internationals, also in United Arab Emirates. Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
| |
McCaw to play blindside in All Blacks shake-up vs Scotland | ||
| | ||
Edinburgh (AFP) - All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw has been shunted to blindside flanker and fly-half Dan Carter gets his first Test start in a year in a vastly rearranged New Zealand side to play Scotland on Saturday. The surprise shake-up also has hooker James Parsons making his Test debut as only 12 players survive from the 23 involved in last weekend's 24-21 win over England at Twickenham. Parsons, along with utility back Colin Slade and lock Dominic Bird who are also in the run-on side to play Scotland, were not in the original touring party but have been called in as injuries hit the squad. But coach Steve Hansen rejected any talk of an understrength side "Though we have made changes to our team, there is an expectation that those who fill the jersey will deliver quality performances," he said when announcing the team. For the 135-Test veteran McCaw, widely acclaimed in his prime as the world's best openside flanker, this will be the first time he has started a Test in the number six jersey although he has previously played at the back of the scrum. He moves to the more defensive role to make way for his openside understudy Sam Cane with Victor Vito at number eight to give the All Blacks more mobility than the established loose trio of McCaw, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read. Of the 15 who started against England, only McCaw and Ben Smith will start again and even Smith has to change position, moving from wing to fullback in place of Israel Dagg. Kaino and locks Patrick Fekitoa and Brodie Retallick were not considered due to injury while centre Conrad Smith has returned home for family reasons. In Smith's absence there is a new-look back combination with Ryan Crotty and Malakai Fekitoa paired in the centres while Slade, who kicked the winning goal as fly-half against Australia last month, joins Charles Piutau on the wing. Carter, the world's leading Test points scorer, joins TJ Perenara in the halves to start his 102nd Test and wear the number 10 jersey for the first time this year. After sitting out the June Test series against England, he missed the Rugby Championship because of injury before returning to play 30 minutes off the bench against the United States two weeks ago. Bird gets his second Test at lock alongside Jeremy Thrush, and with a front-row combination of Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina and Parsons the tight five have a combined total of just 42 caps. Sonny Bill Williams has been placed on the bench along with player of the year nominee Julian Savea. "We have a lot of respect for the Scots and, like all northern hemisphere teams, know that they will bring a lot of physicality to the park," Hansen said. "However, we also expect them to want to move the ball, particularly from any turnovers or free kicks. That style certainly suited them last week and makes them, we believe, even more dangerous." Hansen has said he is using this tour to replicate World Cup conditions. New Zealand team (15-1) Ben Smith; Colin Slade, Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Crotty, Charles Piutau, Dan Carter, TJ Perenara; Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Richie McCaw (captain); Dominic Bird, Jeremy Thrush; Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Joe Moody Replacements: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Luke Romano, Liam Messam, Augustine Pulu, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea Join the conversation about this story »  | ||
| |
