That's being overly cynical. It's a game turning as much on fortune as performance. All NZ fans should savor this win.I find it hard to call it a great victory.
Certainly Patel and Boult had excellent games. But I think most of the test wasn't characterised by greatness. Pretty much a bunch of who-collapsed-worse...
Don't get me wrong I enjoy it.That's being overly cynical. It's a game turning as much on fortune as performance. All NZ fans should savor this win.
Debatable. That One day side was definitely better but Pakistan's wasn't as good. The Sharjah test was certainly hard to forget (Vettori's last hurrah, Mccullum's crazy double) but we'll never know to what extent Hughes' death had an effect on the course of the match. The way NZ clawed their way back into this game after the poor show on day 1 feels a bit more satisfying.Don't get me wrong I enjoy it.
I just think some of the wins on NZ's last tour of the UAE were more impressive
It was a bowler's game in the end. it's easy to point to the collapses but it showed what simply digging in and fighting it out will get you, runs wise. Anytime anyone looked to accelerate in any way they pretty quickly found themselves back in the Pavilion. Both sides built pressure well (though we let the pressure go more than Pakistan) and followed up on it. I was thinking Williamson was missing a trick at the end not changing fields or bowlers but he backed his men and his plana nd it paid off. Baz probably would've brought Boult back on at some point, or even Sodhi to buy a wicket with a full toss because #intent.I find it hard to call it a great victory.
Certainly Patel and Boult had excellent games. But I think most of the test wasn't characterised by greatness. Pretty much a bunch of who-collapsed-worse...
I was thinking about this on the way in. The last Test win in the UAE was just in a world of it's own because of it's circumstance. the IDGAF certainly changed the way we played and was interesting to watch, and that win felt good - but this one just felt better.Don't get me wrong I enjoy it.
I just think some of the wins on NZ's last tour of the UAE were more impressive
This made me real nervous when you first posted it, but I should've never doubted you.This'll be the second impressive overseas win this week.
tbf that came from a couple of regular first class cricketers.timely reminder howsie called ajaz a declaration bowler
Fair enough assessment I'd say.tbf that came from a couple of regular first class cricketers.
He bowled well, I’ve barely seen him bowl myself but I was impressed with his accuracy more that anything. He had some nice drift going on there for a little while but after watching Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi and early doors Mitchell Santner struggle to consistently hit a good length it was nice to see a spinner be consistently at the batsman and testing him.
Being as short as he is it’ll be interesting to see how he goes in New Zealand if he gets the chance, because he sure as heck won’t be getting that amount of turn.
thought it was going to be the literal truth of Pakistan winning in the UAE itbt
Shouldn't take Flem too seriously tbfJeez, how good was that performance from Nicholls in retrospect. At the time he and Watling were batting lots of people were commenting that the pitch had died out and that we'd need 300+ to stand a chance. Turns out the two of them were just making difficult conditions look easier than they were. Arguably Nicholls' best ever test innings.