Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, Day 1: Talking Points

Pakistan and New Zealand locked horns on the 1st day of the 2nd test match at the National Stadium in Karachi. The first test resulted in a draw, but with a little time in hand, New Zealand fancied their chances of getting over the line but bad light had the last say in the test match. New Zealand scripted a brilliant comeback but could go on to win the match. Day 1 of the 2nd test match was shared between both teams, New Zealand dominated the first half of the play while Pakistan came back well in the 2nd half. Let’s have a look at some of the talking points of the day.

New Zealand openers started solidly

Tim Southee of New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. Tom Latham and Devon Conway walked out to bat for New Zealand and looked solid right from the beginning. Mir Hamza and Naseem Shah opened the bowling for Pakistan and couldn’t trouble the batters. Latham and Conway kept ticking away with runs and got the odd boundary as well. Abrar Ahmed and Salman Ali Agha were introduced in the attack quickly but the left-handed duo kept on negotiating them well.

Latham was dismissed after lunch

The pair stitched a partnership of 134 runs together before Tom Latham was dismissed for 71 runs off 100 balls. He was done by a slinging delivery from Naseem Shah. Conway and Kane Williamson steered New Zealand put up a hundred runs stand, the pair had answers to everything thrown at them and at this point it looked like New Zealand is going to put on a very big first innings total. Conway raced to his fourth Test century. As soon as they glued a 100 runs partnership.

Mini-collapse of the Kiwis

Once the partnership between Williamson and Latham was broken, there was a mini collapse which followed. Naseem Shah and Agha Salman were brilliant with the ball as they reduced the visitors to 279-6 from 234-1 within a span of 104 balls. Tom Blundell hung around at one end with Ish Sodhi ably supporting him from the other. Agha Salman was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan today as he bagged three wickets and Naseem Shah claimed two.