How many of us here believe in a miracle? Well, I started to believe on it now after what I saw from today's match between New Zealand and Pakistan. Today here at Abu Dhabi Stadium, New Zealand has justified the statement "Nothing is impossible ". Kiwis who were completely behind after the end of 3rd-day play steal the victory away from Pakistan in a nail-biting match to register one of the greatest victories in the history of test match cricket. After the end of yesterday's play, Pakistani team was just 139 runs away from the victory with all 10 wickets in their hand has lost the match in a 4th day in a very highly dramatic fashion by just 4 runs. With a win, New Zealand becomes the only second team in a test match history to defend the target below 200 runs and also has recorded their smallest margin victory in test match cricket.

The New Zealand left-arm debutant spinner Ajaz Patel who took the 5 wickets for New Zealand in a very crucial moment of the second inning was awarded the man of the match. He took total 7 wickets in the match which helped New Zealand to win the 1st test match of 3 match series. New Zealand who scored only 153 runs in the first innings and were behind by 74 runs in the second innings. Yesterday in the second inning they were all out at 249 runs, only Henry Nicholls and wicketkeeper Watling scored the half century for them. Which set the target of 176 runs for Pakistan in the final session of 3rd days play.

4th Days 1st session

Pakistan who ended the 3rd days play with 37 runs for no wicket has failed to reach the target of 176 runs by just 5 runs today and lost the match by just 4 runs. Visitor New Zealand got the early success with Sodhi and Patel, Pakistan lost their first 3 wickets for just 11 runs. Pakistan lost their first wicket in 5th over of the day when their score was 40 runs, Imam-ul-Haq who started his today's play from 23 runs has lost his wicket on 27 runs. He was given lbw on Patel's ball and Pakistan. Then in very next over, Pakistan lost their 2 wickets. The leg-break Spinner Sodhi took the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez(10 runs) and Haris Sohail(4 runs).

After 48 for 3 wickets, Pakistani Experience batsmen Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq started to build the partnership and try to lean the momentum again towards Pakistan side. These two added 82 runs on Pakistani scoreboard for the 4th wicket. When their score was 130 and was just 46 runs away from the victory with 7 wickets in hand, New Zealand made an important breakthrough that completely helped Kiwis to turn the face of the match in their side. The pace bowler Wagner took the wicket of Asad Shafiq just before the launch. Shafiq scored 45 runs from the 81 balls. Before losing his wicket he crossed the 4000 runs mark in test cricket.

4th Days 2nd session

1st test Day 4 Highlights

In the start of the second session, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam kept adding runs on Pakistani board, When Pakistani were 29 runs behind Babar Azam(15 runs) lost his wicket. Due to miscommunication with his partner Ali, he was run out by Ajaz Patel. Azhar Ali kept scoring the runs from one end but he got no support from the end. Pakistan lost their last 5 wickets in just 24 runs and lost the match dramatically by 4 runs. 3 of last 4 batsmen failed to open their account. Azhar Ali who batted like a warrior from the beginning of 4th-day couldn't help Pakistan to reach their target. He came at number 3 and made a partnership with up to number 11 batsmen but eventually trapped lbw at Patel's over at last and New Zealand registered their first win in the test match after a seven-month gap. Ali who batted till the end of Pakistani second inning scored 65 runs in 136 balls. For New Zealand, a man of the match Patel took 5 wickets, and both Patel and Wagner added two-two wickets. With a win, New Zealand now has taken the lead by 1-0 in 3 match series.

Both teams partnership in second innings. Source:ESPNCRICINFO