KARACHI: New Zealand pushed Pakistan on the backfoot with successive strikes in the closing minutes of the fourth day’s action after captain Tim Southee declared New Zealand’s second turn at 277/5; setting Pakistan to chase 319 runs.
Michael Bracewell and Tom Blundell slammed half-centuries as the two dominated Pakistan in the final session with a brilliant 127-run partnership.
Southee’s decision to prematurely declare the second innings paid dividends as New Zealand inflicted upon Pakistan two early blows, on nought, as opener Abdullah Shafique and night watchman Mir Hamza were quickly removed before stumps.
Pakistan bowlers had three crucial wickets in the second session to reduce New Zealand to 128/4 in the afternoon session before Bracewell and Blundell took charge of New Zealand’s batting.
Bracewell played an unbeaten knock of 74 from 119 balls while wicket-keeper batter Blundell made 74 from 135 balls before he fell prey to Salman Ali Agha.
Earlier, Tom Latham and Kane Williamson stitched a solid 109-run stand after an early jolt by Mir Hamza and steered their side to a commanding position before Pakistan bowlers came back forcefully.
At 114/1, Kiwis were looking strong when Pakistan struck two in two overs with Abrar Ahmed playing parts in both the dismissals before Hasan Ali took his first wicket of the match to dismiss Henry Nicholls cheaply on 5.
Latham looked in sublime form as he raised 62 off 103 balls before Abrar grabbed a blinder at short mid-wicket off Naseem Shah’s bowling and ended the left-handed opener’s stay in the afternoon.
Veteran Williamson, however, fell prey to Abrar in the very next over in a leg-before wicket after scoring 41.
First inning’s centurion Devon Conway departed on a golden duck after New Zealand got rid of the last man to book Pakistan on 408 in the first over in the morning.
In an eventful first hour of play on day 4, New Zealand earned a vital lead of 41 runs after Ish Sodhi dismissed tail-ender Abrar Ahmed on nought, checking Pakistan from adding not more than a run to their overnight total of 407.
Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza, however, hit bull’s eye on his very first delivery as he cleaned up Conway to stick New Zealand at 5/1 in their second turn. Latham and Williamson took charge from there onwards and surged New Zealand’s lead to 117 at Lunch.
Dependable Saud Shakeel, who raised his first Test century on the previous to help Pakistan get close to New Zealand’s first-inning total of 449, went unbeaten on 125 when Pakistan were bundled out
For New Zealand, Sodhi and Ajaz Patel bagged three wickets each while Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry and captain Tim Southee took a scalp each in the first innings.
