While the Blackcaps will lament missing the chance for just their third test victory on Pakistan soil, the return of Ish Sodhi has ultimately been an unexpected positive for the New Zealand squad after a draw in Karachi.
Playing his first test since the end of 2018, 30-year-old Sodhi made the most of a rare opportunity in whites, putting in career-best performances with both bat and ball to remind the selectors of his quality.
Seen more as a white-ball player - boasting the tag of being the Blackcaps' go-to specialist spinner in Twenty20 cricket especially - Sodhi would have been forgiven for thinking test cricket had passed him by.
But in Karachi, Sodhi proved his worth in the game's purest form, especially in the subcontinent where spin is king.
Sodhi claimed his best figures in test cricket with 6/86 in Pakistan's second innings, as part of a new career-best match haul of 8/173, as well as contributing a vital 65 runs to give the Blackcaps a 174-run lead on day four.
And while the man-of-the-match honours rightly went to captain Kane Williamson for an unbeaten 200, the Blackcaps outline Sodhi's efforts shouldn't go unrecognised.
"[It was a] fantastic performance," said bowling coach Shane Jurgensen. "Considering the first innings was tough for bowlers to take wickets.
"For him to adapt and make the adjustments in the second innings - he was extremely accurate - was awesome to see. He was a threat throughout the whole innings, I thought.
"It was just an awesome bowling performance. Some of the deliveries he bowled to take the wickets were absolutely fantastic.
"It was really great for him for all the hard work he's done for a long period of time. To get this opportunity - and take it - was absolutely fantastic."
Picked as the second spinner to complement Ajaz Patel, Sodhi's efforts with the ball aren't entirely unexpected.
However, his innings of 65 as part of a 154-run stand with Williamson was just as important in New Zealand's attempt to push for victory on day five.
And although a combination of Pakistan's resistance and bad light in the Karachi evening denied the Blackcaps a 1-0 series lead, new captain Tim Southee hailed Sodhi's efforts after such a lengthy absence from the test side.
"Not only his bowling, but his partnership [with Williamson] and contribution with the bat was exceptional," said Southee.
"He hasn't played test cricket for a long time. For him to come back in and have an impact straight away was very pleasing.
"He can be extremely proud of his test match. It's not easy when you haven't played for a while to come in and contribute with bat and ball.
"It's great for Ish to be able to do that."
