New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell accomplished a feat never before seen in 145 years of Men’s Test cricket on the first day of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi, making it a day of firsts.
Before the toss, history was made when New Zealand returned to Pakistan for a Test series for the first time since 2002 and when Pakistan veteran Sarfaraz Ahmed was called up for what would be his 50th appearance and first Test on home soil. However, what happened during the first session was a first in Men’s Test cricket.
The veteran spinner Ajaz Patel was brought into the attack by Kiwi captain Tim Southee in just the fourth over of the day, and the move paid off almost immediately as Abdullah Shafique was out stumped by Blundell for seven.
Three overs later, the Kiwis got their second wicket, and Shan Masood was the victim this time. Blundell had left-hander Masood stumped off the bowling of Michael Bracewell. Because of this, the first two dismissals of the Test were stumpings, a feat that had never before been accomplished by men in a Test match.
Overall, it had happened twice before; the first time was during the Women’s Test between Australia and the West Indies in Jamaica in 1976, which also started with two stumping dismissals. Imam-ul-Haq was out-caught by Bracewell shortly after, giving New Zealand a strong start to the Test match and the series. Imam-ul-Haq is often dependable for Pakistan.
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