Pakistan will come back hard, but we hope to do something special: Neil Wagner

Before Mumbai-born Patel achieved his five-wicket haul, it was left-arm pacer Neil Wagner, who triggered the Pakistan collapse.

Neil Wagner celebrates a Pakistan wicket with captain Kane Williamson. @ Getty Images

Debutant leg-arm spinner Ajaz Patel helped New Zealand script one of the greatest come-from-behind Test victories with a thrilling four-run victory against Pakistan in the first Test at Abu Dhabi on November 19 (Monday).

Before Mumbai-born Patel achieved his five-wicket haul, it was left-arm pacer Neil Wagner, who triggered the Pakistan collapse by picking up Asad Shafiq on the last ball of the morning session. Before, he knew it, Wagner had bowled a marathon 13-over spell.

“It took a while to sink in,” he said on Wednesday.

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“Adrenalin was running high. It was pretty hot at one stage, and the nature of wicket, it did feel like you were tiring a little, but you tried not to think about it or look at the scoreboard. When someone mentions you’ve bowled 13 overs, then you start feeling tired. I was going all right, you are in a bit zone, and you just keeping going. It hits you when you go to bed.”

Wagner then claimed the wicket of Yasir Shah, back in the hut for a duck after he was caught at slip before Patel took control.

“It’s pretty surreal to be honest,” Wagner said.

“An amazing fightback. We knew we’d be in with a chance if we kept fighting. That last hour was quite freakish. The feeling in the changing room, looking at everyone’s faces and seeing the joy and relief, being surprised at what we’ve achieved.

“It was pretty awesome to see a guy like Ajaz Patel come in in his first Test, it took me about eight Tests to have my first win, so to play a special part in a win, see a smile on his face, was a cool moment.”

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The second Test begins on November 24 (Saturday) and Wagner knows the Pakistan will come back hard to prevent the BlackCaps from just their second series victory away from home against Pakistan.

“We know that even if we are a little bit behind we can keep fighting, we know what we can achieve,” Wagner said.

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“It was bloody tough, hard work, a big fight and it will just get harder. [Pakistan] will come back hard. Hopefully, we can do something similar and pretty special.”