Currently, New Zealand are busy with their historic Test series against Pakistan. During the opening day of the ongoing two-match Test series, we first ever experienced an incident in Test cricket history, when the first two dismissals of the match were stumpings.
The ongoing Karachi Test is New Zealand’s first Test in Pakistan since 2002. After Pakistan captain Babar Azam chose to bat first, the hosts lost their first three wickets quickly, just inside the first 15 overs.
First time in Test cricket history: First two wickets of a Test match involved stumpings
New Zealand skipper Tim Southee introduced the spinners early in the game, and the visitors got effective results very soon. On the 21st ball of the match, Pak opener Abdullah Shafique (7) was stumped as Ajaz Patel collected that wicket.
Just sixteen balls later, the no.3 batter Shan Masood (3) lost his wicket to another spinner, Michael Bracewell, as the wicketkeeper Tom Blundell recorded another successful stumping.
It was the first time in Test cricket history, which was started more than 145 years ago (in 1877), to experience the first two wickets of the game through stumpings.
Later, the other opener Imam-ul-Haq (24) was caught out just before the drinks break while Bracewell got another wicket, and the hosts Pakistan were struggling on 48/3.
However, captain Babar Azam’s strong batting performance with the middle-order batters helped the hosts to recover in the innings. Though Saud Shakeel (22) was dismissed by the Black Caps skipper Tim Southee, Babar had a solid 196-run partnership for the fifth wicket with the comeback wicketkeeper-batter and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed.
At the end of the opening day of this two-match Test series, Pakistan scored 317/5. While Babar scored 161 not out, Sarfaraz was dismissed by Ajaz Patel for 86 runs in the late moment of the day.
