Tom Latham and Kane Williamson smashed brilliant centuries Wednesday as New Zealand replied strongly to take two-run lead against Pakistan on the third day of the first Test in Karachi.

Williamson reached the three figures for the 25th time in his Test career, lifting the Blackcaps to 440/6 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 438.

At stumps the right-hander was unbeaten on 105, while Ish Sodhi was yet to trouble the scorers.

The day was completely dominated by Williamson, who got two lifelines at the scores of 15 and 21 thanks to wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed’s fumbles behind the stumps.

The former captain took full advantage of the missed stumping chances as he smashed 11 boundaries for his ton. He was well supported by Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell. The duo scored 42 and 47 respectively.

Earlier, Latham’s 13th hundred – the most by a New Zealand opener – took the visitors to 245-2 at lunch.

Latham swept spinner Abrar Ahmed for a single to reach three figures, eclipsing John Wright’s 12 centuries as an opener for New Zealand. He was finally dismissed for 113 after miscuing a reverse sweep and was caught in the slip.

Latham hit ten boundaries in his 288-minute knock.

Latham and Conway put on 183 for the first wicket, beating the New Zealand record against Pakistan of 181 set by openers Mark Richardson and Matthew Bell at Hamilton in 2001.

Conway was trapped leg before by spinner Nauman Ali for 92 after striking 14 boundaries in his fifth Test half-century.

The Pakistan camp has been hit by viral flu with neither skipper Babar Azam nor Agha Salman taking the field in Wednesday’s first session.