Ajaz Patel confident first Test will go in New Zealand's favour

New Zealand spinner Ajaz is quite confident about the team's chances and is pleased with the performance in the first Test currently being played in Karachi at the National Bank cricket arena.

Pakistan after winning the toss decided to bat first and scored 438 runs in the first innings with centuries made by skipper Babar Azam and Agha Salman.

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In reply, New Zealand replied strongly with Devon Conway and Tom Latham created a 180-run opening partnership.

Ajaz Patel, during an exclusive interview with a local media news channel, said our bowling was quite well in the first innings.

“The pitch is more conducive for batters as compared to pacers or spinners. We bowled well today, which helped us improve our position in the match. The batters also did a good job. However, tomorrow is a big day for us,” Patel said during an exclusive interview.

“We are not thinking about the lead at the moment since our first target is to equal Pakistan’s total in the first innings.

“We also need to see how the pitch behaves tomorrow morning. There is some moisture in the pitch in the morning session, which helps the bowlers.”

The 34-year-old born in Mumbai understands and speaks Urdu well and it helps to understand what the opponent team is planning.

“I can understand their language, so it is slightly easy to know Pakistan’s plans. Although, it does not make a big difference since, as cricketers, we should be able to understand a player’s plan even if we don’t speak the same language,” he said.

Reminder for all is that New Zealand opener Devon Conway was dismissed by Nauman Ali. Opener Tom Latham brings up his 13th Test century.