KARACHI: Salman Ali Agha struck three quick wickets to control damage for Pakistan after Devon Conway slammed a remarkable century to put New Zealand in command on the opening day of the second Test, here at National Bank Cricket Arena on Monday.
New Zealand reached 309/6 at stumps, thanks to the phenomenal knock by Conway, who made 121 from 191 balls and stitched a solid 134-run opening stand with Tom Latham.
Gathering another 100 runs with veteran Kane Williamson, Conway was forced to leave the pitch after tea in a caught-behind wicket off Salman, who then went on to hunt Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell.
Abrar Ahmed, however, dismissed Micahel Bracewell on duck in a short while to propel a comeback for Pakistan as they stuck New Zealand on 279/6.
Tom Blundell and Ish Sodhi denied Pakistani bowlers further success as the two held the ground firmly on 30 and 11, respectively at the close of the first day’s play.
Opting to bat first, Blackcaps openers were on the charge throughout the first session as both Latham and Conway raised their respective fifties and dismantled Paksitan’s reinvigorated bowling attack, charged with Naseem Shah and Hasan Ali this time.
After a frustrating first session, Pakistan earned their first breakthrough in the afternoon when returning Naseem Shah dismantled the 134-run opening stand between Conway and Tom Latham.
Latham and Conway kept their momentum intact from the first Test, where they made an incredible 183-run opening stand in the first innings and went not out in the second innings when bad light stopped play on the final day.
Naseem struck Latham on his pads, which was given leg before straight away by the umpire, ceasing his handsome knock on 71.
Conway, however, remained undeterred and raised his fourth Test ton from 156 balls before falling prey to Salman who found a healthy edge of his bat in the evening session.
Naseem sprung back into action following Conway’s wicket as he got rid of first Test hero Williamson, on 36, with an outside edge, excellently grabbed by wicket-keeper Sarfaraz.
Mitchell, however, was left wonder-struck when a sharp turning ball by Salman pierced the gap between his bat and bat to hit the off stump. His knock was cut short at 3 with New Zealand stranded on 255/4.
Henry Nicholls and Michael Bracewell added 23 runs to the total before Salman had his third when a faint edge off Nicholls’s bat was reviewed by skipper Babar Azam.
