Pakistan vs New Zealand

New Zealand pulled out of the Pakistan series citing security reasons in 2021 and hence their return this time has added an extra spice to the competition.

SonyLIV, the official OTT platform of Sony Sports Network will provide live Streaming of the Pakistan vs New Zealand Test series on its online platforms in India. The Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st Test will be played at the National Stadium on December 26 (Monday). Pakistan versus New Zealand will be streamed on the Sony Sports network and streamed on Sony Liv app from 10:30 AM IST. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2022 08:00 AM IST. Ajaz Patel has done well in the subcontinent wickets in the past and he will be a key here. After a disastrous test series at home against England, the Pakistan cricket team gears up to host New Zealand in a two game test series.

PAK vs NZ 1st Test: Get the Live Score Updates, Commentary, Scorecard and Highlights from Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 1 in Karachi.

CRR: 3.89. Batting, R(B), 4s, 6s, SR. Babar Azam*, 117(174), 11, 1, 67.24. Sarfaraz Ahmed, 35(61), 6, 0, 57.38. Bowling, O, M, R, W.

75.6 Ajaz Patel to Sarfaraz, 3 runs, short and wide, Sarfaraz leans closer to cut it through cover point in the gap. 75.3 Ajaz Patel to Sarfaraz, no run, tossed up on middle, defended to the right of the bowler No fielder behind the wicket on the off side and that's four!

Kiwis record all-time Test cricket first but drops punished by star's brilliant century.

New Zealand’s decision to play with three spinners appeared justified, as the National Stadium pitch took turn right from the start. New to Kayo? Watch Pakistan v New Zealand.

CRR: 3.86. Batting, R(B), 4s, 6s, SR. Babar Azam*, 77(123), 9, 0, 62.6. Sarfaraz Ahmed, 16(23), 3, 0, 69.57. Bowling, O, M, R, W. Neil Wagner*, 2.1, 0, 7, 0.

55.2 Wagner to Babar Azam, no run, a loosener outside off, left alone 55.6 Wagner to Babar Azam, no run, good length outside off, Babar makes a late decision to leave 57.6 Wagner to Babar Azam, no run, full outside off, no need to play. 57.1 Wagner to Babar Azam, 1 run, full outside off, driven to the sweeper And a different Pakistan has emerged post Lunch as well. It was as though both sessions were played on different surfaces - in the morning there was sharp turn and bounce, and after Lunch it has gotten as flat as old soda.

SHAHID AFRIDI IS THE CHIEF SELECTOR! That's never not going to take getting used to. A coup's been staged against Ramiz, and the new guys - who are really the ...

[Shahid Afridi is the chief selector](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/pakistan-news-pcb-overhaul-shahid-afridi-named-interim-chief-selector-of-pakistan-mens-team-1351020). [Mohammad Rizwan](http://www.espncricinfo.com/player/mohammad-rizwan-323389)is not having a great year. Now, six months later he is New Zealand's new Test captain, ready to bowl in a continent where he has [an exemplary record](https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/232364.html?class=1;continent=2;filter=advanced;orderby=default;template=results;type=bowling). The Karachi pitch for the recent Test against England was slow and low, but not necessarily uneven in contest for it. But who knows, with a new administration in town, it may liven up a little. He is [averaging 30 this year](https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/323389.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=start;spanmin1=01+jan+2022;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting;view=innings)with bat, which isn't great but isn't diabolical either. [Tim Southee](http://www.espncricinfo.com/player/tim-southee-232364)looked cooked, though, in hindsight, that was probably more England's batting than his bowling. [six of their nine Tests](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-test-championship-2021-2023-1268315/points-table-standings)in this World Test Championship cycle. Yeah, they were the [first guinea pigs](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-in-england-2022-1276891)in the Bazball experiment. The domestic system is about to be completely ripped apart. SHAHID AFRIDI IS THE CHIEF SELECTOR! There they were until last week, floating along on a little fluffy cloud of bland, but at least in control of it.

CRR: 3.52. Batting, R(B), 4s, 6s, SR. Agha Salman*, 3(16), 0, 0, 18.75. Babar Azam, 161(277), 15, 1, 58.12. Bowling, O, M, R, W. Ajaz Patel*, 27, 3, 91, 2.

Sharp turn and beats Babar's defence to strike on the back thigh pad. No bat but it would have spun over the stumps!! The left-armer got Babar LBW as well, but a review saved him. The next two sessions however were totally dominated by Pakistan, as the pitch got flat and the experience of Babar and Sarfaraz proved no match. But it wasn't to be as Ajaz Patel got him caught at slip with the new ball. Pakistan were horrible for the first hour and a half, but they steadied the ship brilliantly after that.

Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed made a century pair. (PCB Image)

The captain stood at one end but found no one to support him at the other end. Then Salman stepped on the wicket and supported Babar. The duo combined to take the team’s score to 110 when Team Southee dismissed Shakeel. He showed Abdullah Shafiq the way to the pavilion. In this match, Sarfraz Ahmed, who returned to the playing-11, also played a great innings. Pakistani captain Babar won the toss and decided to bat first.