Becker Hails 'Superstar' Zverev As Best of New
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2018 16 Patel spins Kiwis to victory Debutant Ajaz Patel scripts stunning four-run win for New Zealand in first Test against Pakistan Azhar Ali fought a lone battle low to his left as Haris Sohail Kiwi spinner Ajaz for Pakistan with 65 and was drove a full toss back at him. New Zealand first innings 153 • the last man out when he was Pakistani nerves were eased Pakistan first innings 227 Patel took five trapped leg-before wicket by by the sight of Azhar and Asad New Zealand 2nd innings 249 wickets Patel. He reviewed Bruce Oxen- Shafiq carefully rebuilding the Pakistan 2nd innings (overnight 37-0) to sink ford’s decision but the television KNOW WHAT innings with a fourth wicket Imam-ul-Haq lbw b Patel 27 Pakistan replays upheld the decision. partnership of 82. Hafeez c de Grandhomme b Sodhi 10 Resuming on 37 without loss, Shafiq made a cultured 45, Azhar Ali lbw b Patel 65 Pakistan began the day as fa - becoming the 11th Pakistani to Haris Sohail c & b Sodhi 4 AFP | Abu vourites to chase down the 176 reach 4,000 runs in Test cricket, Asad Shafiq c Watling b Wagner 45 Dhabi Defending a modest they needed for victory although 176-run target, New but his dismissal in the last over Babar Azam run out 13 New Zealand will have taken Zealand bowled out before lunch, edging Neil Wag- Sarfraz Ahmed c Watling b Patel 3 ebutant some hope from Pakistan’s fail- ner to wicketkeeper BJ Watling, Bilal Asif b Patel 0 spinner ure at the same ground last year Pakistan for 171 changed the game as Pakistan Yasir Shah c Taylor b Wagner 0 DAjaz Pa- to chase 136 against Sri Lanka. lost their final seven wickets for Hasan Ali c sub (Southee) b Patel 0 tel took five wickets to Kiwi spinners Patel and Ish just 41. Mohammad Abbas not out 0 lead a never-say-die approach Sodhi opened the bowling and After lunch, Babar Azam ran Extras: (b 4) 4 from New Zealand bowlers as immediately caused problems leg-before for 27 to a full length himself out for 13, the guilty par- Total: (all out; 58.4 overs) 171 they pulled off a thrilling four- as Pakistan lost three wickets in ball by left-arm spinner Patel in ty in a mix-up with Azhar and Bowling: Boult 7-0-29-0, de Grand- run win over an indisciplined the first six overs. the fifth over. In the sixth, Sodhi skipper Sarfraz Ahmed fell for a homme 3-0-15-0, Patel 23.4-4-59-5, Pakistan in the first Test in had Mohammad Hafeez caught second time sweeping Patel, this Sodhi 12-0-37-2, Wagner 13-4-27-2 Abu Dhabi yesterday. Chaos at the crease in the covers and then three balls time gloving the ball to Watling. Result: New Zealand won by four runs Defending a modest 176- Imam-ul-Haq was trapped later held on to a return catch Bilal Asif tried to slog a straight run target, New Zealand ball from Patel and was bowled bowlers led by Patel (5-59), leaving Pakistan 154 for seven, fast bowler Neil Wagner still 22 runs short of victory. The (2-27) and Ish Sodhi (2-37) earlier measure at the crease had bowled out Pakistan for 171 been replaced by chaos. on a drama-packed fourth In the next over Wagner had day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Yasir Shah caught in the slips It is the fifth smallest win and then Hasan Ali attempted a in terms of runs in Test cricket slog-sweep off Patel, picking out Ajaz Patel history and gives New Zealand substitute fielder Tim Southee a 1-0 lead in the three-match on the midwicket boundary. series. Azhar then tried to inch Paki- “The attitude, certainly today stan across the line, farming the and throughout the game, was strike from Mohammad Abbas. brilliant,” said New Zealand But with five runs still needed captain Kane Williamson who to win Patel found the deliv - now has nine wins in his 18 ery to win the match for New Tests in charge. Zealand. “How those two bowlers “We didn’t get a good start to Ajaz and Wagner bowled, for the day,” said Pakistan captain almost 20 overs, was brilliant. Sarfraz. We knew the surface was not “Azhar and Shafiq put in a anSerbia's easy one. Novak There Djok was- con - good stand but then the collapse siderableovic returns turn against from day was really disappointing. You oneGermany's and all the Alex spinners- New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel (R) and teammates Henry Nicholls (L) and BJ Watling (2L) make a successful leg before have to give credit to Ajaz as bowledander Zverev well.” wicket appeal against Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali (3L) well.” Djokovic sets sights on 2019 after ‘phenomenal season’ AFP | London ovak Djokovic set his sights Overall it was a Non the Australian Open af- phenomenal season ter a painful defeat in the ATP that I have to be Finals at the hands of Alexander definitely very proud Zverev took some of the gloss of off an incredible season. The Serbian world number NOVAK DJOKOVIC one looked unbeatable heading into Sunday’s final, winning all four of his matches in London Serving power Germany’s Alexander Zverev returns against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during in straight sets and not dropping Widely regarded as one of the their men’s singles final of the ATP World Tour Finals serve once. greatest returners in the histo- But his 21-year-old opponent ry of the game, it is his serving showed no fear at a packed O2 numbers that have been so strik- Becker hails ‘superstar’ Arena, trading heavy blows with ing during his run to the final in his illustrious opponent from London. Zverev as best of new gen the back of the court and out- Federer remains a threat and lasting him in long rallies to win Nadal and Andy Murray are Reuters | London season, will finish in the top 6-4, 6-3. on the road back from injury four of the world rankings for A sanguine Djokovic was while Zverev will start next lexander Zverev has prov- a second straight year. eager to put the defeat into season full of confidence de- Aen himself as the best of “For years we have been say- context after a memorable sec- spite his poor record at Grand tennis’ new generation of ing tennis needs new faces and ond half of the season, during Slams. men’s players following his strong new players - and he’s which he has clambered back But Djokovic will be the man maiden ATP Finals triumph proved he is the best of the to the top of the men’s game Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns against Germany’s Alexander Zverev to beat when the first major of where he beat Roger Federer next generation,” Becker, the from the lowly ranking of 22 he next year comes round in Mel- and Novak Djokovic in consec- last German to win the ATP found himself in as recently as to reflect on and also take from fourth title at the All England bourne in January -- it is a venue utive days, German great Boris Finals in 1995, told the BBC. June. this season, especially the last club and following up by se - where he has won six times. Becker has said. “Beating Novak Djokovic in “Obviously no one likes to six months.” curing a third US Open crown “Having a Grand Slam so early After overcoming 20-times the final was a big upset and a lose a tennis match,” he said. The 31-year-old started his to leave him on 14 Grand Slams in the season makes us train Grand Slam winner Federer big victory for Sascha (Zverev). “You try your best. But at the year with a miserable early exit -- three behind Rafael Nadal and probably very hard and be kind in the semi-finals in London It was the big match which we same time, as I said on the at the Australian Open, followed six behind Federer. of aware that we have to be at on Saturday, the 21-year-old were all waiting for from him. court, you put things in a larg- by elbow surgery and a string “Overall it was a phenomenal our best in the first week of the Zverev beat world number one “Yes... he’s beaten Djokovic er perspective, see things a bit of disappointing results on his season that I have to be definite- year,” he said. Djokovic the next day to claim and Federer before, but to beat differently. return to the court. ly very proud of,” Djokovic said. “The first Slam is there in Jan- the biggest crown of his career them back-to-back in one of “When you get out of this But since Wimbledon start- What is frightening for Djok- uary. I’ve had most success in so far. the biggest tournaments in the feeling of a little bit disappoint- ed he has suffered just three ovic’s rivals is that -- Sunday’s my life, in my career, in Austral- Victory meant Zverev, who world tells him, most impor- ment that you lost, I mean, all defeats -- including Sunday’s surprise defeat aside -- he ap- ia out of all four Slams. Hopeful- has also won titles in Washing- tantly, but also the world, that the positive things that I have against Zverev -- winning a pears to be getting better.