(Reuters) – Debutant spinner Ajaz Patel claimed five wickets in the second innings as New Zealand beat Pakistan by four runs on a dramatic fourth day of the opening test in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Pakistan resumed the day on 37 for no loss, needing 139 runs for a victory to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, but suffered two separate batting collapses that resulted in a tense finish at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 171 in 58.4 overs as the visitors wrapped up the fifth-smallest win by runs in test history.
“We knew the surface wasn’t an easy one. There was turn from day one and all the spinners bowled well,” New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said.
“It’s a great advertisement for test cricket. In the end, it came down to the wire. We’ll sit down and review our performance and the things to improve upon. The attitude, certainly today and throughout the game, was brilliant.”
Azhar Ali (65), who stitched together an 82-run stand with Asad Shafiq (45) to keep Pakistan’s hopes alive, was the last batsman to fall when he was trapped in front of the wicket by Patel who finished with 5-59.
“It’s a dream come true. We know Pakistan have got good players of spin, but we kept chipping in there,” left-armer Patel said.
Earlier, Patel dismissed opener Imam-ul-Haq leg-before and spin partner Ish Sodhi 
struck twice to remove Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail as Pakistan lost three batsmen in eight balls to find themselves in trouble at 48-3.
Shafiq edged pace bowler Neil Wagner to wicketkeeper BJ Watling before lunch and Babar Azam was run out after the break. Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was then caught behind off Patel for three with his team down 154-6 and needing 22 runs to win.
Bilal Asif was bowled for a duck as he attempted to slog Patel and Wagner had Yasir Shah caught at slip. Hasan Ali was the next to go, offering a simple catch to substitute fielder Tim Southee off Patel.
Azhar played more cautiously as the wickets continued to tumble, but despite the 33-year-old’s battling effort, Pakistan could not avoid defeat.
The second test will be played in Dubai from Nov. 24-28 before the teams return to Abu Dhabi for the final test from Dec. 3-7.