A disappointed Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq has admitted that had they taken their chances his side could have had a better result, following their draw in the second Test against New Zealand in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan cricket team managed to avoid a defeat in the second Test against New Zealand in Dubai as they held the tourists to a draw after being set a challenging target of 261 off 72 overs that was backed by a brilliant ton by Ross Taylor.
Pakistan's early loss of four wickets meant that all results were possible come tea but in the end the hosts finished 65 runs short of victory when bad light ended play five overs before the scheduled close.
Asad Shafiq remained unbeaten on 41 and Sarfraz Ahmed scored 24 not out as Pakistan finished on 196 for five, with the draw preserving their 1-0 lead in the three-match series following last week's 248-run win Abu Dhabi, Sport24 reported.
It was an exciting finish before an 8,000-holiday crowd who anticipated a Pakistan win after New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had sportingly declared his side's second innings on 250 for nine.
That was made possible after Taylor notched a brilliant 104 for his 12th Test century.
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Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq credited to New Zealand for displaying a lot of improvement after the first game. He said that he is a little bit disappointed because had they taken their chances they could have had a better result.
Haq said that they had planned the chase, to bat normally in the first 40 overs and then step up, but added that they lost three quick wickets and then Younis Khan got out so it became tough.
Meanwhile, McCullum praised New Zealand's resolve, saying that it was obviously an extremely good Test match. He added that it was a great effort and believes the toss was really important and they managed to put on a good total, 403 after he elected to bat, and that really lifted his side.
Younis, who scored 44, and Shafiq lifted Pakistan from a precarious 75 for four after Trent Boult had dismissed Shan Masood on 40 and skipper Misbah-ul Haq for a duck in his successive overs.
Pakistan, needing 130 in the last 20 overs, picked up the tempo with Shafiq hitting two boundaries off Mark Craig but the off-spinner derailed the chase when he dismissed Younis with a turning, rising delivery that took the edge and was well held at slip by Taylor.
Younis hit three sixes and two boundaries in his 84-ball knock. Boult finished with miserly figures of two for 12 in 10 overs while Craig took two for 66 in 17.
The third and final Test starts in Sharjah on November 26, the report added.
