Tim Southee has been left reflecting with some frustration on his New Zealand aspect lacking out on a well-known Test win and collection victory in Pakistan, after ending up simply “one ball away” in a drawn second contest in Karachi.
The Black Caps had been concerned in an exhilarating end on Friday, with all 4 outcomes nonetheless doable earlier than the sunshine worsened to spoil a beautiful denouement.
But New Zealand, of their first tour to Pakistan for 19 years, in all probability felt most pissed off as they’d the hosts 9 wickets down and nonetheless needing one other 15 for victory at 9-304 when play was halted.
“We got ourselves in, probably, positions to win both Tests,” Southee informed reporters, additionally reflecting on final week’s first match which had additionally resulted in a draw after a beneficiant declaration from Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
“It was pretty tough going but the guys toiled away and we were one ball away from a series victory. So, yeah, disappointing to walk away (with a draw) and I’m sure Pakistan are the same.
“You toil away for 10 days, you stroll away and it is a drawn collection. A number of good cricket was performed in and amongst these 10 days.”
Southee, who had himself made a challenging declaration on the penultimate evening, saw his side bowl 90 overs before the game was abandoned and had no regrets about the timing of his call.
“It was a little bit of a balancing act to attempt to get the correct quantity of overs left and the correct quantity of runs,” he stated.
“And I suppose to get a bit of dip at them [for 2.5 overs] final evening and get them two (wickets) down was an ideal begin.
“I guess you always look back and there’s ways you could improve and you could get better. But that was a decision we made at the time.
“The batters felt it wasn’t straightforward to only exit and hit the ball, so it was a type of selections you needed to weigh up.”
At one point on Friday, New Zealand had Pakistan flailing at 5-80 but Sarfaraz Ahmed then gave the hosts real hope with a counter-attacking hundred that briefly made them favourites with 52 still needed and four wickets standing.
“Don’t know if I charge attracts,” said new skipper Southee with a rueful smile, when asked about being part of such a dramatic finale.
“But it was an thrilling end. I hope that the folks watching loved the tip there.
“It would’ve been better to win but I guess for the people that were watching, I hope it was exciting.”
