Mini-session Analysis, 1st test Pakistan vs New Zealand, Abu Dhabi

Here is the final mini-session analysis for the first test between Pakistan and New Zealand at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE

A mini-session is (normally) half a session, either between the start of the session and the drinks break or the drinks break and the end of the session. Occasionally a long session will have 3 mini-sessions where it will be broken up with 2 drinks breaks.

Mini-Session	Score	Winner
1-1a	Pakistan 37/0 off 17	Pakistan
1-1b	Pakistan 48/0 off 14	Pakistan
1-2a	Pakistan 50/0 off 14	Pakistan
1-2b	Pakistan 59/1 off 15	Pakistan
1-3a	Pakistan 43/0 off 16	Pakistan
1-3b	Pakistan 32/0 off 14	Pakistan
2-1a	Pakistan 47/0 off 15	Pakistan
2-1b	Pakistan 31/1 off 11	draw
2-2a	Pakistan 57/1 off 17	New Zealand
2-2b	Pakistan 67/0 off 16	Pakistan
2-3a	Pakistan 73/0 off 16	Pakistan
2-3b	Pakistan 22/0 off 5.5	Pakistan
	New Zealand 15/0 off 7
3-1a	New Zealand 32/2 off 13	Pakistan
3-1b	New Zealand 34/1 off 14	Pakistan
3-2a	New Zealand 60/1 off 15	draw
3-2b	New Zealand 45/1 off 15	draw
3-3a	New Zealand 43/3 off 13	Pakistan
3-3b	New Zealand 33/2 off 10.3	draw
	Pakistan 15/0 off 6
4-1a	Pakistan 54/1 off 12.4	Pakistan
4-1b	Pakistan 58/0 off 14.2	Pakistan
4-2a	Pakistan 48/1 off 6	Pakistan
4-2b	New Zealand 47/0 off 9	New Zealand
4-2c	New Zealand 22/3 off 7.4	Pakistan
4-3a	New Zealand 52/4 off 17.3	Pakistan
4-3b	New Zealand 53/1 off 19.5	New Zealand
5-1a	New Zealand 57/1 off 16	New Zealand
5-1b	New Zealand 0/1 off 0.3	n/a

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Pakistan win the match by 248 runs and the mini-session count 20 - 6


First drinks, Day 1: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 1-0

Pakistan saw off the new ball, but the New Zealand spinners have managed to keep the scoring rate in check. There were no real chances created, but the swing bowlers did get the ball moving early on. Good batting from Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shezad. - Mykuhl


Lunch, Day 1: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 2-0

After a fairly uneventful first hour, this was the opposite. There were boundaries, a missed stumping, a couple of balls bounce just short of a fielder. Pakistan clearly won the hour, but it could have definitely gone the other way. - Mykuhl


Middle drinks, Day 1: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 3-0

A couple of deliveries caused some consternation. But only two or three balls out of 84. This is now only the 11th century opening partnership for Pakistan in the last 10 years. And it's a product of some very good batting. A third hour that's been won by Pakistan. - Mykuhl


Stumps, Day 1: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 6-0

A dominant day for Pakistan. They have batted very well. New Zealand bowled tightly, but only created a couple of chances. - Mykuhl


Lunch, Day 2: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 7.5-0.5

New Zealand finally get on the board, and how. When Ahmed Shehzad went under the first bouncer from Anderson he left his periscope up. At that point it was enevitible that there was another bouncer coming his way. He was clearly aware of it. Shehzad made his mind up that he would hook the next one.

But while the idea might have been a sensible one, the execution let him down. The ball crashed into the gap between the visor and the grill, fracturing Shehzad's skull and causing him to drop his bat onto the stumps. It was a dismissal for the highlights reel, but also a reminder that cricket is still a dangerous sport and a cricket ball is still a missile that can do some real damage. - Myluhl


Stumps, Day 2: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 10.5-1.5

Pakistan win another session and another day. Their batsmen have been very impressive, now it's time for their bowlers to show what they have. - Mykuhl


Middle drinks, Day 3: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 13-2

A good hour for New Zealand, spoiled by losing Anderson. The Anderson - Latham combination took to the bowlers, attempting to hit them off their line and length. It was effective too, with the Pakistani bowlers looking a lot less composed than they had previously. But then Anderson chopped an average delivery from Rahat Ali onto his stumps, and the gate started to swing open again. - Mykuhl


Lunch, Day 4: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 17-3

More misery for New Zealand. Younus Khan is looking imperious. - Mykuhl


Tea, Day 4: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 18-4

A bold start by McCullum and Latham. But there are still 4 and a half sessions left. It will take a lot more good batting to see New Zealand home. - Mykuhl


Tea, Day 4: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 19-4

And in the space of 3 and a half over all hope is extinguished. This is now a case of when and not if. - Mykuhl


First drinks, Day 5: Pakistan lead the mini-session count 20-6

There's not much more fun in cricket than watching a tail-end partnership. Boult and Sodhi are playing some enterprising cricket, much to the frustration of the Pakistani players. There's no suggestion that it will last the whole day, and the new ball will be available before lunch, but it's fun while it lasts. - Mykuhl


Lunch, Day 5: Pakistan win the mini-session count 20-6

Pakistan take a deserved victory. They have followed the same pattern that they used against Australia, bat long and slow, then take advantage of tired batsmen. Good attritional test cricket. Sodhi and Latham are the two real positives for New Zealand in an otherwise disappointing outing. - Mykuhl