It was always going to be difficult for Pakistan to chase a target above 150. Not due to the nature of the pitch but due to their habit of succumbing to the scoreboard pressure. Last year at the same venue, they fell 21 runs short of a 136-run target against Sri Lanka. So, the precedent was also not in their favour.
ABU DHABI TEST
Pakistan were unable to handle pressure, admits Sarfraz
Ajaz Patel bagged a fifer on debut as Pakistan lost their last 7 wickets for only 41 runs © AFP
Unexpectedly, Pakistan got off to a flying start when they began their run chase in the final minutes on Day Three. In eight overs, they managed 37 without a loss as Imam-ul-Haq, with his thumping strokeplay, put the visitors on the backfoot. The start made everyone believe that Pakistan had a chance. It was just not to be.
Five overs in the morning session on Day Four, a top-order collapse unfolded. In a span of five balls, Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi accounted for the wickets of Imam and Mohammad Hafeez. Two balls later, Haris Sohail handed a catch back to Sodhi. While Imam's dismissal can be credited to impeccable bowling, because of which Patel got his maiden five-wicket haul on his Test debut and
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