Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
90 | 2 Runs | PAK: 304/9

  • Abrar Ahmed7 (13b)
  • Naseem Shah15 (11b)
  • Ish Sodhi18-2-59-2
  • Michael Bracewell20-2-75-4

And that, dear friends, is all we have from ESPNcricinfo's coverage of the Test series. As Babar and Southee hold the trophy together, it is time for us to say goodbye. Many thanks from Ranjith P, Venkat Raghav, Himanshu Agrawal, Abhimanyu Bose, Ekanth P and myself Sreshth Shah for your continuous company. Bye bye, but remember the cricket never stops. First ODI starts Jan 9.

6.08pm Time for the presentation.

Sarfaraz Ahmed is the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series. What a comeback. True cornered tiger spirit. He says: " I was part of the team for four years and despite not getting chances here I was continuing to play well elsewhere. Wanted an opportunity from Allah and got it. I was very tensed in the first Test, but the boys and captain gave me confidence. (Last session today) When 140 runs were left, the management said that you need to keep trying to score when the ball is there to hit. But then two wickets fell, and so we changed our style of play. If those two wickets didn't fall then the result could've been something else. (This century - the best?) It is a fourth-innings century so it is special, probably my best. (Karachi crowd) Karachi crowd has always supported me. And always supported the team. Request them to come for the ODIs too."

NZ captain Tim Southee: (Final session) Came down to the last moments, great end to ten days of pretty tough toil. (Leading position for most of the Test, did you think it would slip away?) We got ourselves to push for a win, but the way Sarfaraz played sort of took the game away from us. Funny game, we saw in the end it was still up for grabs. (Series for bowlers?) Sodhi's comeback after not playing Tests for a long time, we are thrilled for him. Michael Bracewell keeps developing too. Overall, pretty tough surface so for the boys to keep asking questions and trying. We knew from the nature of the surface that things could happen late in the Test, Sarfaraz was probably the difference, we could've won had we got them earlier. (Outing as captain - good?) You approach every Test to win. Pretty tough tour to play 10 days in the same ground. Looking forward to the one-day series.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam: (Final session - life in the game) Our plan after tea was to go for the chase. Sarfaraz accelerated and Saud took some chances, and that's when we thought we'll go for it. (Plan) Our plan was to keep things simple till the final session. If we got a partnership in the middle order then it would've been a different plan. Our plan changed after Agha was out. (Home season) We didn't perform as per people's expectations but there were positives: we want to polish the positives and remove the negatives. (Sarfaraz) Dream comeback for him. Saifi bhai did not let the fire die within him in four years. Work ethic was always there and continued to wait for his turn. We could've won also briefly, and it was because of his confidence and belief."

Asad N: "The umpires should have kept the game going… a result in this day and age is far more important to achieve! Bad umpiring " -- Well yes, Pakistan would be happier. NZ could never really lose the game once the umpires said they could only bowl spin if they wanted the game to continue.

6.02pm As we wait for the presentation, a few thoughts: this is why the format is so enjoyable, and also why it is so frustrating. After five days, no result, when a result could've been possible had the turnaround between overs been quicker through the day, or there were fewer stoppages in play. On the other hand, the romantic in me feels like sport is not always a zero-sum game where there is one loser and one winner, it is possible to have two teams leaving the field with a smile. Personally, though, I definitely feel Pakistan will be happier. Remember they were 0 for 2 this morning.

mark: "Spinners on, lights on, heck it's still very bright there right now... just bring out the pink ball and keep it going. Such a shocker to go off at that stage it wasn't dangerous, players could clearly see the ball. "

5.58pm Oh, what a finish to the test. We'll have the presentation very soon - very keen to hear what the two captains thought of today's action and the Test series as a whole.

Sarfaraz receiving congratulations from all the NZ players. Century on the fifth day a great achievement, and now getting some love from his own team-mates.

RajB: "All captains should declare like Southee. Other team should have a fighting chance as well. Good for cricket fans.

Peter : "I honestly think that Shakeel should be given more credit. If he had gotten out early, the scores of the next four would have joined together to make the Audi sign. "

5.55pm As the teams shake hands, there will be lots of 'what if' moments from fans - NZ could've bowled more overs by being quicker, Saud Shakeel and Sarfaraz and the rest could've batted faster, but hey, it is probably the most accurate result. Sarfaraz didn't deserve to be on the losing side and Bracewell didn't either. Eventually, a drawn Test series, 0-0, after two matches in Karachi.

Simon : "Test cricket shoots itself in the foot once again. This is the last test I will be following in Pakistan for sure. 3 overs to go, one wicket to get, 15 runs to get with the batmen clearly going for it, two slow bowlers on and they stop for bad light. It's just so so poor"

Asad: "If MOM can be given to partnerships, I would give it to 10th wicket partnership between Ajaz and Henry in NZ !st Innings."

5.54pm One more over? Don't know yet. The umpires are chatting. Umpire Dar takes umpire Wharf away from the huddle of players around them. And play called off - it is a draw! Both teams happy, both teams sad. That kind of game - see-saw battle, just what we love this format of the sport for. Naseem gives Southee a hug and then goes over to Williamson to shake his hand. A terrific effort from the tenth-wicket partnership to play out 21 balls and survive.

89.6
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, full ball on off. Turning into middle. Defended
89.5
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, LBW appeal in unison but not given. They are thinking whether to review or not. Because a review takes time. And they review. Fullish outside off. Turning in a bit but Abrar moved to the off side. Hit his back leg, and impact is probably outside the line of the stumps. Yes, confirmed.

Humair Khan: "Umpires be like "we r here to race Toto"" -- And aren't we all! Almost as epic a finish as the last F1 season

89.4
2
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, 2 runs, tossed up, almost a yorker. Dug back, past the bowler to long off. They scurry for two. Wonder if they should've stuck with just a single.

Naseem has a chat with Abrar. I think he's telling Abrar that this could be the last over.

89.3
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, full ball on off. Sharp turn into middle. Blocked off the back foot
89.2
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, full ball on off. Abrar takes a stride forward to meet the bat quite low. Blocked
89.1
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, full ball just outside off. Googly pushed to midwicket

Now now now. Umpires say the light is good to continue.

END OF OVER:
89 | 10 Runs | PAK: 302/9

  • Naseem Shah15 (11b)
  • Abrar Ahmed5 (7b)
  • Michael Bracewell20-2-75-4
  • Ish Sodhi17-2-57-2
88.6
0
Bracewell to Naseem Shah, no run, full ball on off stump. Defended off the front foot

Southee and Naseem having a chat. Mouth-watering stuff. Two fielders now go in the deep again.

88.5
4
Bracewell to Naseem Shah, FOUR, full ball outside off and Naseem throws his bat at it again. Sliced drive, so the ball races away to deep backward point. 17 more needed
88.4
0
Bracewell to Naseem Shah, no run, full ball just outside off stump. Defended gently with soft hands
88.3
6
Bracewell to Naseem Shah, SIX, full ball outside off. Naseem cracks it remarkably, and it has gone over deep extra cover! Target 21 runs away.
88.2
0
Bracewell to Naseem Shah, no run, around the stumps. Fullish on off and skidding through. Punchy shot off the back foot
88.1
0
Bracewell to Naseem Shah, no run, full ball outside off. Turning in, and fended with soft hands

More cricket? More cricket.

Santosh: "Can they switch on the lights?" -- The flood lights are on already.

END OF OVER:
88 | 4 Runs | PAK: 292/9

  • Abrar Ahmed5 (7b)
  • Naseem Shah5 (5b)
  • Ish Sodhi17-2-57-2
  • Michael Bracewell19-2-65-4
87.6
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, full ball on off and middle. Googly fended off the back foot to the leg side. Over done.
87.5
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, full ball just outside off. Googly, and defended to the leg side
87.4
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, weird delivery. Very short, going down the leg side. That was an incorrect release
87.3
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, full ball just outside off. Abrar opts to fend it, off the back foot on this occasion
87.2
0
Sodhi to Abrar Ahmed, no run, appeal for lbw but no. Fullish ball sliding into him, down the leg side and hitting the pad

Pakistan 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0Imam-ul-HaqAbdullah Shafique
2nd0Mir HamzaImam-ul-Haq
3rd35Shan MasoodImam-ul-Haq
4th42Shan MasoodBabar Azam
5th3Sarfaraz AhmedShan Masood
6th123Sarfaraz AhmedSaud Shakeel
7th70Sarfaraz AhmedAgha Salman
8th9Sarfaraz AhmedHasan Ali
9th5Sarfaraz AhmedNaseem Shah
10th17Abrar AhmedNaseem Shah