New Zealand's opening pair of Devon Conway and Tom Latham responded with a solid 165-0 in the first Test against Pakistan on Tuesday, December 27, after Agha Salman scored his first Test century to help Pakistan to a competitive 438. The left-handed duo took on the challenge of Abrar Ahmed's spin on a dry wicket to remain unbeaten on 82 and 78 respectively at stumps on the second day.
Heading into Day 2, New Zealand trails by 273.
The Conway-Latham story
Both batters used their feet well against Abrar, who took 17 wickets in two Test matches against England earlier in December 2022. Conway reached his half-century off 89 balls with nine fours. He also completed 1,000 Test runs in 19 innings, taking the national record previously held by John F. Reid.
Latham soon followed, scoring his 50 in 96 as both batters grew in confidence. Pakistan's weakened pace attack in the absence of the injured Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah didn't challenge Conway or Latham enough with the new ball as both batters took New Zealand to 41-0 by tea before adding 124 more runs in the final session.
History for Salman, Southee
Earlier, 29-year-old Salman batted resolutely in the company of Pakistan's tailenders to score 103. This came after Pakistan lost Babar Azam in the day's first over with no addition to his overnight score of 161.
He was the last batter to be dismissed when Pakistan was bowled out an hour after lunch. Meanwhile, Tim Southee, the Kiwis' new Test captain, picked up his 350th test wicket to wrap up the innings. Salman tried to play across the seamer but was struck on the back leg and was ruled out leg before wicket.
Southee was the pick of the bowlers with 3-69 while the three New Zealand spinners — Michael Bracewell (2-72), Ish Sodhi (2-87) and Ajaz Patel (2-112) — shared six wickets.
Neil Wagner picked up his only wicket when Nauman Ali (7) pulled at the left-arm but was well caught by Bracewell at square leg. Sodhi picked up his first test wicket in four years after being recalled for the tour of Pakistan when Mohammad Wasim attempted a ramp shot and Tom Blundell held onto a thin edge.
Babar falls
Earlier, Babar was caught behind for 161 off 280 balls when Southee found the outside edge off his fourth ball of the day. On Monday, the skipper saved Pakistan with a 196-run stand for the fifth wicket with Sarfaraz Ahmed, who made 86 runs in his comeback test match in almost four years.
New Zealand is touring Pakistan for two Tests and three ODIs with Karachi hosting all the games after weather concerns in Multan forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to move the second Test to Karachi.
(With AP Inputs)
