Fawad Alam’s century goes in vain as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 101 runs in first Test

New Zealand on Wednesday beat Pakistan by 101 runs in the first Test at Bay Oval to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Earlier, Fawad Alam scored a century and built up a hard fought partnership with Mohammad Rizwan, taking Pakistan to the final session with 158 to win in 36 overs. This was Alam’s second Test ton, after scoring his first in 2009.

According to PTI, before Wednesday’s century, Alam’s highest score was 21 against England in August when he made a comeback after being discarded by Pakistan in 2009 following three Tests and a best innings of 168. 

Kiwi pacers Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson then took out both the batsmen, giving New Zealand the chance of making to the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June. 

Also read: New Zealand cricketer Kyle Jamieson fined for throwing ball at Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf

Jamieson, celebrating his 26th birthday, broke the 165-run fifth-wicket stand when he removed Rizwan 11 overs into the final session.

Although the final wicket pair of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah battled it out of 48 balls. However, Mitchell Santner took the wicket of Shah with just 27 balls remaining. 

Jamieson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Wagner and Santner all took two wickets each in the second innings.