Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi registered his first five-wicket haul Friday as New Zealand pressed for victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Karachi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 30-year-old, playing his first Test in four years, turned the match in New Zealand's favour with three wickets in the post-lunch session to leave Pakistan on 249-7 at tea on the fifth and final day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Trying to avoid a fifth consecutive Test defeat at home, Pakistan led by just 75 runs with three wickets remaining and 35 overs left to play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim were on 23 and 20 respectively at the break, putting on a fighting 43 runs for the eighth wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sodhi took advantage of a weary last-day National Stadium pitch with figures of 5-66.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He dismissed Sarfaraz Ahmed (53), Agha Salman (six) and Imam-ul-Haq (96) in the space of 27 balls for the addition of just 21 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Haq and Sarfaraz had added a defiant 85 runs for the fifth wicket and raised hopes of salvaging a draw for the home team before Sodhi struck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He had Sarfaraz caught behind, bowled Salman, then got Haq stumped to leave Pakistan on 206-7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Haq, who survived lbw referrals off the bowler on 58 and 74, cracked 10 boundaries and a six in his sixth half-century, while Sarfaraz had seven hits to the rope.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
So incensed was he by his dismissal, Haq smashed a chair with his bat on the way to the dressing room.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Resuming on 77-2, Pakistan lost nightwatchman Nauman Ali early, trapped leg-before by spinner Michael Bracewell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n