For much of the first test, the Black Caps' return to test cricket looked a lot like their return to short-form cricket.
There were moments of brilliance and competitive cricket throughout but the visitors looked like they lacked the
depth and resilience of Pakistan.
In the Twenty20 format, the Black Caps pushed Pakistan close without finding the winning formula, losing that series 3-0, and had the one-dayers tied at 1-1 before rain fell when they were facing an uphill battle for victory.
And that looked a similar plotline through the first test, as New Zealand produced moments of quality but not consistently enough to ever look like winning.
But after snaring three early wickets in the space of eight balls early on and one just before lunch, another four fell for only eight runs during the second session and suddenly the Black Caps could sniff a miracle win.
When Ajaz Patel picked up his fifth wicket by trapping Azhar Ali leg before for 65, Pakistan were all out for 171, giving the Black Caps a remarkable four-run victory.
The margin was the smallest-ever New Zealand win and Pakistan loss by runs in tests. The total was the second-lowest the Black Caps have ever successfully defended.
The lowest was 137 in the famous win over England in Wellington in 1978. The third-lowest now is the 241 defended in beating Australia in Hobart in 2011, another notable victory. And this was one to be mentioned in the same breath as those other two famed results.
