KARACHI: Salman Ali Agha slammed his first Test century to help Pakistan raise a solid 438-run total in the first innings against New Zealand in the opening Test, here at National Bank Cricket Arena on Tuesday.
Compounding the flourishing start provided by the skipper Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed on the opening day, Salman played a phenomenal knock of 155-ball 103 on the second day to take Pakistan in the lead.
Batting Maestro Babar, who dominated the first day with his stellar performance had to walk back in the very first over without adding a run to his overnight score of 161 when he edged the ball to the wicketkeeper, Tom Blundell, off Kiwi captain Tim Southee’s bowling.
Returning Sarfaraz, however, made a remarkable comeback in the Test side after four years as he made 86 from 153 balls.
Southee remained the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand as he grabbed three while Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell made two scalps each.
Pakistan added 121 runs to their overnight total of 317 with 100 coming out of just Salman’s bat. He blasted 17 fours during his blistering knock and was on the charge in the afternoon session with tail on the other end.
Nauman Ali, who batted for almost 15 overs and made only 7 runs frustrated the Kiwi bowlers with his solid defence after Babar’s early dismissal. He stood firm alongside Salman for the most part of the opening session when the two gathered 54 runs from 157 balls. before Wagner finally found the breakthrough with a short-pitch delivery to remove him.
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, then went on to bring Mohammad Wasim’s demise(2 from 5) and earned his first test wicket in four years. Sodhi took his second after Lunch interval when he trapped Mir Hamza onto his pads.
