New Zealand v Pakistan - Astonishing stuff at Hamilton!

 The Hamilton track was still placid and batting friendly on the third day. But from nowhere a sudden havoc took arrived and left the host at sixes and sevens. What was supposed to turning out to be an intriguing contest, settled into a no-contest-affair.

Even though, the Kiwis were outclassed in Bangladesh and India, according to many, they were dubbed as favourites against Pakistan in this Test match but, the cricket thinkers simply forgot about Pakistan’s unpredictable nature.

Since the Pakistanis started their journey in world cricket, their unpredictability made them as one of the feared and beloved teams in world cricket. This unique nature is in their cricketing gene and it has been transferred within generation to generation.

The first two days gave the picture of an evenly matched contest. But in the last session of the third day reminded all of us about the staggering feats of Wasim and Waqar 17 years back where they clinched a Pakistan victory from nowhere by virtue of their charismatic bowling.

The scenario was different but the act was just the same yesterday at Wellington.

There wasn’t any Mohammad Amir or Asif to trigger a sudden collapse, even though Umar Gul is a master in doing such things in the limited over version but, Wahab Riaz or Abdur Rehman, though have talents but aren’t charismatic characters to do such.

But they did do something charismatic.

Since Abdur Rehman, who doesn’t rely on turn that much but more on varying the lengths, removed McIntosh - outfoxed by a well tossed up delivery, holding back its length and then stumped by Adnan, Akmal – an astonishing collapse started to unleash. Remember, Asif Mujataba’s reflex catch of Andrew Jones at short-leg off Waqar’s bowling in 1993 on this same ground? That sudden breakthrough triggered a dramatic collapse. The same thing happened here again.

Wahab Riaz removed the danger man Brendon McCullum while Rehman at the other end removed Guptill. Riaz then plumbed Ryder with a fast late inswing for a golden duck. Then the star batsman Taylor was run out due to the panic set up the Riaz and Rehman. Riaz then removed Kane Williamson. Vettori was trapped leg before by Rehman and 60 for 1 had become 71-7! In the twinkle of an eye the eye brows were raised, the jaws were dropped and all were stunned to see what had just taken place during the last session of the third day.

And then Umar Gul wrapped up the Kiwis innings with fast and hostile bowling leaving them clueless. Pakistan needed just 19 to win and they won it without losing a wicket.

The ability to script such thrillers is in the Pakistani cricketer’s cricketing gene. The Guls, the Riazs or the Rehmans might vanish anytime in the mysterious world of Pakistan cricket but some unknown face or some other bowler from Rawalpindi or Lahore or Sialkot will do the same thing like their proud ancestors: Fazal, Sarfraz, Imran, Akram and Waqar. As they are Pakistanis and dishing out the most unthinkable is in their cricketing gene.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar