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Sunday, December 22, 2024  
19 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1446  

New Zealand openers stand firm in reply to Pakistan’s 438

Pakistan captain scored 161
Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
New Zealand’s cricketers celebrate after the dismissal of Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam (R) as he walks back to the pavilion during the second day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on December 27, 2022. AFP
New Zealand’s cricketers celebrate after the dismissal of Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam (R) as he walks back to the pavilion during the second day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on December 27, 2022. AFP

New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway got off to a confident start in the first Test against Pakistan Tuesday, reaching 165 without loss after the home side scored 438.

Latham and Conway were unbeaten on 78 and 82 respectively at stumps on day two, after Pakistan added 121 runs to their overnight total of 317-5.

The highlight of Pakistan’s batting was 103 by Agha Salman, who anchored the innings after skipper Babar Azam fell in the first over of the day without adding to his overnight score of 161.

Fast bowler Tim Southee forced an edge off Azam’s bat off the fourth ball of the day to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell to give a kickstart to New Zealand.

Azam struck 16 boundaries and a six in his 365-minute knock.

Pakistan also lost Nauman Ali (seven) and Mohammad Wasim (two) in the first session, which produced just 60 runs.

Salman added 54 runs for the seventh wicket before New Zealand took two wickets in the space of three runs.

Pacer Neil Wagner had Nauman caught off a short-pitched delivery before Wasim was caught behind off spinner Ish Sodhi.

Salman then cut loose, hitting two successive boundaries off Sodhi to complete three figures. His previous best of 62 was against Sri Lanka at Galle in July.

Southee, who finished with 3-69, finally ended the innings by trapping Salman leg before, completing 350 wickets in his 89th Test.

He is the third New Zealand bowler behind Richard Hadlee (431 in 86 Tests) and Daniel Vettori (362 in 113) to take 350 or more wickets in Tests.

Salman hit 17 boundaries during his 155-ball knock.

Ajaz Patel, Michael Bracewell and Sodhi took two wickets apiece.

The two-match Test series is New Zealand’s first in Pakistan since 2002.

Playing XIs:

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee (capt), Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner and Ajaz Patel.

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (capt), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Agha Salman, Nauman Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed.

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