Sarfaraz leads Pakistan to thrilling draw

Karachi, Jan. 7: Sarfaraz Ahmed continued his red-hot form with a thrilling century to help Pakistan draw a nail-biting second and final test against New Zealand as the series ended 0-0 on Friday.

The 35-year-old Sarfaraz, who also struck half-centuries in his three previous innings after being recalled for the series following a near-four year absence, made 118 before the last-wicket pair hung on in dimming light for 21 balls to take Pakistan to 304-9, just 15 runs shy of its victory target.

New Zealand took seven wickets on the final day and was within one more scalp of forcing a win. Sarfaraz stood firm for 4 fours and 48 minutes and featured in a second successive century stand with Saud Shakeel (32) after the Black Caps had reduced Pakistan to 80-5 before lunch thanks to Michael Bracewell (4-75) claiming two wickets in six deliveries.

Sarfaraz and Shakeel defied New Zealand for nearly three hours before Shakeel fell to a brilliant reflex catch in the slips by Daryl Mitchell early in the final session. Agha Salman made a brisk 30 but was clean bowled by Matt Henry before New Zealand struck twice with the second new ball under fading light.

Hasan Ali was trapped leg before wicket by Tim Southee and Sarfaraz was superbly snapped up by Kane Williamson low at leg slip off Bracewell’s sharp off-spin, and the Pakistan batter walked off to a standing ovation from the sparse crowd at the National Stadium.

No. 10 Naseem Shah and No. 11 Abrar Ahmed then held out against Bracewell and fellow spinner Ish Sodhi (2-59), with all 10 fielders around the bat, before bad light ended play with three overs left.

Rain dampens Australia’s hopes Inclement weather threatens to derail Australia’s bid of a series clean sweep against South Africa and a confirmed place in the world test championship final as the third and final test against South Africa at Sydney Cricket Ground appears destined for a draw.

After rain and bad light delays across the first two days, consistent, and at times heavy, rain meant no play was possible at all on Friday. It left Australia unable to add to its imposing first-innings score of 475-4 and Usman Khawaja stranded on his overnight score of 195 and tantalizingly close to his first double century.

“Time is the enemy,” Khawaja said. “A result is unlikely, let’s be honest, but it’s still possible.”Australia has already won the series after two crushing defeats in the first two tests at Brisbane and Melbourne.

A win for Australia in this third test would confirm its place in the world test championship final to be played at Lord’s in England in June this year. Sri Lanka levels series Dasun Shanaka held his nerve in the final over as Sri Lanka restricted India to win the second Twenty20 by 16 runs on Thursday.

With 21 runs needed off six balls, Shanaka conceded only four as India was held to 190-8. Axar Patel smacked 65 off 31 balls to help India recover from 57-5, while Suryakumar Yadav scored 51 off 36 balls.

That was after Shanaka smashed 56 not out off 22 balls as Sri Lanka notched up 206-6.The three-match series is now level 1-1 after India won the first game in Mumbai by two runs. It was Sri Lanka’s first win in 13 T20s on Indian soil. Its last win here also came in Pune in 2016. (AP)