New Zealand pushed Pakistan onto the backfoot in the first Test after Kane Williamson hit a marathon unbeaten double century on Thursday.
Williamson’s 200 not out in 10 hours earned New Zealand a meaningful 174-run lead as the visitors declared at a monumental 612-9 at tea, with tailender Ish Sodhi scoring a career-best 65.
New Zealand spinners Michael Bracewell and Ish Sodhi made early inroads in the final session to reduce Pakistan to 77-2 at stumps. Pakistan still trails by 97 runs on a wicket which has some encouragement for spinners from the bowlers’ footmarks.
Imam-ul-Haq saw off the session with an unbeaten 45, while nightwatchman Nauman Ali survived an umbrella of fielders around him in the last over to go not out on four.
Abdullah Shafique once again threw away his wicket as he was caught low down at short mid-on for 17 after attempting a needless drive against off-spinner Michael Bracewell. Shafique had fallen cheaply in Pakistan’s first innings score of 438 when he came down the wicket off Ajaz Patel in only the fourth over of the game and got stumped.
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Brief scores
Pakistan 438 & 77-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 45*) v NZ 612-9d (K Williamson 200*, T Latham 113, D Conway 92; A Ahmed 5-205, N Ali 3-185)
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