‘Hey Yasir, Stop It’: Yasir Shah’s Kiwi-hunt puts Pakistan in driving seat

New Zealand were bowled out for 90 in the first-innings of the second Test at Dubai International Stadium as spin wizard Yasir Shah wreaked havoc, driving Pakistan to a strong spot to level the series.

Pakistan declared at 418/5 in the first-innings courtesy tons from middle-order batsmen Harris Sohail (147) and Babar Azam (127*). In reply, New Zealand piled up a decent opening stand of 50 before things took a dramatic turn as the Kiwis had no answer to Shah’s wizardry. So much so that 6 out of the 11 batsmen went back to the pavilion without troubling the scorecard.

The 32-year-old also became the first person to bag 100 wickets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is being praised by Pakistani and foreign cricket fans alike for his spell-binding bowling.

Yasir Shah becomes first player to take 100 Test wickets in UAE. Well done @Shah64Y!! pic.twitter.com/cBii4v4SZl

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) November 26, 2018

Shah also bagged a three-wicket maiden.

W0W0W0 – Yasir Shah bowls a triple wicket maiden in Tests. even the score says WOW WOW. @Shah64Y #Cricket

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) November 26, 2018

Praise is being showered from across the border too

Seems like a sensational spell from Yasir Shah. Sends New Zealand from 50-0 to 90-9!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 26, 2018

What a sensational spell from Yasir Shah. NZ having no clue against his tricks. After being 50/0 , 90 all out.
Yasir is a special leg-spinner and has so much more to achieve #PakvNZ

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 26, 2018

Here are some of the highlights of Shah’s wizardry

WATCH: Yasir Shah's magical spell of 8 for 41 which skittled the Kiwis for 90 in the first innings of the second Test

Ball-by-ball clips: https://t.co/5S2jCBUCDe#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/Eb3iKyx85E

— Cricingif (@_cricingif) November 26, 2018

Fourth in the list of people with most 5-wicket hauls in Tests for Pakistan

https://twitter.com/NaqeebU96101356/status/1067016295445483520

There’s so many records here that we are losing count. Shah’s figures (8/41) are the third best in history by a Pakistani bowler.

Yasir Shah, take a bow!

He's taken figures of 8/41, the third best by a Pakistani bowler in Test cricket, to help his team bowl New Zealand out for 90.#PAKvNZ LIVE ⬇️https://t.co/sHrmQnbNyn pic.twitter.com/DMhWVP9clo

— ICC (@ICC) November 26, 2018

New Zealand being memefied as if Yasir Shah’s spell was not enough

https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1066990944682012672

https://twitter.com/SAAD_hun/status/1066996167911882753

https://twitter.com/doublezero0_0/status/1066974525953318912

Pakistan puts New Zealand to bat as the latter fail to avoid follow-on

With a 328-run lead at the end of the first-innings play, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed chose to put the Kiwis to bat again as they failed to avoid the follow-on. As of now, the Black Caps are 66/1 with 2-days-play remaining.

The momentum is favouring Pakistan and Shah at the moment and Sarfraz is wise enough to cash on it to avoid a repeat of the first Test, which now looks highly unlikely.

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