PAK vs NZ 2nd Take a look at: Sarfaraz Ahmed saves Pakistan from loss as New Zealand accept draw | Cricket Information

Persevering with the golden run since his comeback, Sarfaraz Ahmed on Friday hit a superb century to assist Pakistan eke out a draw towards New Zealand within the thrilling second and ultimate Take a look at and he rated his fourth innings hundred at his `finest`.

Away from Take a look at cricket for 3 years, 35-year-old Sarfaraz made a profitable comeback within the Take a look at sequence towards New Zealand, smashing 4 successive fifty-plus scores, together with his first Take a look at century in 9 years on the ultimate day of the sequence.

Hailing it as his “finest” knock, Sarfaraz described the ton as a particular one.

“This was a fourth-innings hundred and within the fourth innings, it isn’t simple to bat anyplace on the planet. So I feel that is my finest hundred,” Sarfaraz was quoted as saying by ICC.

The previous Pakistan skipper had hit three Take a look at centuries in 2014, however hasn`t made one other since in 9 years. He had returned to the Take a look at XI after three years earlier within the sequence and walked away with the Participant of the Sequence award.

His most compelling knock got here on day 5 of the second Take a look at, the place Pakistan had their backs towards the wall early with New Zealand decreasing them to 80/5.

“My frame of mind wasn`t excellent once I got here to bat the primary time. I used to be very tense, there have been a variety of nerves. However the captain Babar Azam gave me a variety of confidence and the boys within the workforce gave me a variety of confidence,” he mentioned.

“I backed my kind from home cricket and had a great efficiency,” he added.

With Mohammad Rizwan in good kind, Sarfaraz had missed out on Take a look at cricket since 2019 earlier than making a convincing comeback this sequence. Whereas he was principally with the squad because the backup wicketkeeper, a spot within the beginning XI by no means fairly got here his approach.

“I’ve been there with the workforce for 4 years and sadly I didn’t get an opportunity however no matter cricket got here my approach, my effort was to maintain taking part in my recreation,” he mentioned.

Friday noticed dramatic scenes in Karachi as the sport resulted in an exhilarating draw. Michael Bracewell despatched again Sarfaraz late within the day because the ninth wicket placing the guests had been on the cusp of a well-known win. Pakistan too had been within the recreation till the top, ending 15 runs away when dangerous mild referred to as off play.