00:00In the Golden Pages of Pakistan Cricket, a few innings shines as defiantly and gloriously
00:06as Ijaz Ahmed 100 in the only test at Christchurch in 1995.
00:11On a tour where the ball often dictated terms, Ijaz Ahmed bat roared back with a symphony
00:17of grace and grit, an innings that still echoes through times as a classic example of calculated
00:23counter-attack.
00:24Ijaz Ahmed carved a resolute 103 runs of 213 balls.
00:29His inning lasting 312 minutes, a masterclass in patience, placement, and panache.
00:35He struck 13 elegant boundaries and launched two towering sixes that cleared the ropes with
00:40the authority, defying the pressure and the condition.
00:44It was not just the runs, it was how he scored them.
00:47The front foot drives through cover, the swivel pulls, and the lead dabs behind point.
00:53Ijaz Ahmed was in sublime touch, stitching together Pakistan resurgence.
00:58So let's cherish the vintage memory of Ijaz Ahmed Patink.
01:02He's now facing Danny Morris.
01:06That's got a way down to third man.
01:08The unprotected third man, long chase for the New Zealand field.
01:11They won't get it though, and that is a bounce.
01:13Cut away in the gap between slip and gully.
01:18There's no third man, unprotected boundary down there, comfortable forward.
01:24Pulled away, and no need to run for that.
01:30And it's fixed.
01:32Well, that is quite an unbelievable shot there from Ijaz, because it wasn't really that short,
01:41and it was outside the off stump as well.
01:43He latched onto that one, and hit it in front of square.
01:46Now, for a fast bowler to be hit in front of square for six.
01:50A bit of conservative field with Patel.
01:53Oh, he goes over the top.
01:55He's got hold of it, and is it six?
01:58It is.
01:59Well, he hit it very well.
02:01Just kept going down there at the southern end.
02:03Cleared the boundary by quite a bit.
02:06Well, Ijaz has certainly thrown down the gauntlet.
02:09He's not going to be dominated by Patel.
02:12First over, down the wicket.
02:15Six runs.
02:16Good shot, good footwork.
02:18Yes, it was, wasn't it?
02:19In the middle as well.
02:20Better than I originally taught.
02:22And it went a long way.
02:24Down in that number five stand.
02:28Well, there's the answer from Ijaz.
02:30He swung that away.
02:32And that's four more.
02:34If there's anything short, the ball's to the edge out.
02:43He's very hard on it.
02:45There's perfect timing there.
02:47Pulls the ball around the corner.
02:49Gets behind it, and pulls it to the middle of the bat.
02:57Oh, it's sailing down the lead side.
02:59Let's watch the umpire.
03:01Four byes.
03:03Got away from Leigh-Jumont.
03:06Full and wide.
03:09Just as we were talking about how they were complaining him.
03:12They come to the front foot and crack on through the covers.
03:20Yes, and these are the magnets in this shot.
03:22Overpicked and brutally timed.
03:25The flourish of the bat, and with the middle of the bat, in fact,
03:28going down the ground to the cover regions for them.
03:32Superb-looking shot.
03:34Martin just giving him a bit of width.
03:36He goes into the 90s.
03:38That's short and pulled away high.
03:42And then four more.
03:44Well, it wasn't that short.
03:49When he's racing through the 90s, he's at now 97.
03:55Bit of the pressure up, all right.
03:57Not what I would know.
03:58Oh, goodness gracious.
04:02He might get this down to the fence.
04:04Certainly has gone down there.
04:06And it is four runs.
04:08And that is the 100 for Ejo's armist.
04:11Didn't exactly get there in style, but that's his fourth test entry.
04:16And it's his obsessive test entry for Ejo's.
04:20He scored 137 in his highest test score against Australia in the last test in Sydney for Pakistan.
04:26And now he's got his fourth.
04:28And he'll be delighted.
04:30Interesting way to go to three figures.
04:32You won't be worried about that.
04:34My word, that went over the top of the stump.
04:37Stump the keeper.
04:39And there's your 100.
04:41Wonderful feeling when you see the additions are.
04:44There's a big target.
04:47There's an end.
04:49He's gone.
04:50Deal now.
04:51The test match began with early tremors for Pakistan.
04:55The tourists tumble in their first innings, bundle out for a paltry 208 runs on a seam-friendly
05:02surfaces at Lancaster Park.
05:04The kiwi ballers, ever persistent and probing in their backyard, sensed early dominance
05:10but cricket, as it so often does, had other plans.
05:14When Pakistan returned for their second essay, the script flipped.
05:18Standing tall at the queries was Ijaz Ahmed, a man known for his flair but often underrated
05:24for his temperament.
05:26What followed was a display of vintage stroke play laced with responsibility.
05:30With Ijaz Ahmed century as the backbone, Pakistan piled on 434 in the second innings.
05:37The scoreboard pressure proved decisive as New Zealand, despite their home advantage,
05:42faltered under the weight of growing target and Pakistan revitalized bowling attack.
05:47The result a commanding 161-run victory for Pakistan.
05:51It was a performance that not only turned the match but also reminded cricket lovers of
05:56Ijaz Ahmed through caliber.
05:58Not merely a tasher, but a craftsman when the team needed steel and style in equal measure.
06:04Ijaz Ahmed was one of Pakistan's most stylish and aggressive middle-order bestmen during
06:10the 1980s and 1990s.
06:13Known for his fearless stroke play and ability to take on quality bowling attacks, Ijaz Ahmed
06:18combined elegance with power.
06:20He played 60 test matches and 250 ODIs for Pakistan, scoring over 9,000 international runs.
06:27While inconsistency sometimes showcased his career, on his day Ijaz was a match winner,
06:33especially noted for his centuries against top sides like India, Australia, and New Zealand.
06:39His ability to lift the tempo and dominate ballers made him a vital asset in Pakistan's
06:44batting lineup for over a decade.
06:46So, when in an era of many batting grids, Ijaz Ahmed's century at Christchurch remains
06:52a gem often overlooked, yet unforgettable for those who witnessed it.
06:56It was not just about reaching three-figure, it was about rising when the chips were down
07:02and delivering an inning that stitched together a famous overseas triumph, a truly classic chapter
07:08in Pakistan's test legacy.
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