KARACHI: Tom Latham and Kane Williamson crushed hundreds to help New Zealand eclipse Pakistan’s opening 438 innings in the opening Test at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.
Mid-order hitters Daryl Mitchell (42) and Tom Blundell (47) missed half a century, but New Zealand still finished day three with an impressive 440-6 and optimistic of a handy lead .
Williamson was at bat on 105, his 25th Test cent, with Ish Sodhi on the other end.
Earlier Devon Conway fell for 92 but Tom Latham couldn’t deprive himself of his century after New Zealand took over the 165 unbeaten at the National Stadium.
Nauman Ali turned one in front of the bat and into Conway’s pad to pull out the opener who was initially not ruled out but had to leave after Pakistan reviewed umpire Aleem Dar’s decision.
Latham struck out a single from Abrar Ahmed to win his 13th Test cent, the most by a New Zealand flyhalf, in his 69th game.
Latham used his feet against the spinners and looked confident until a reverse sweep attempt against Abrar resulted in his fall.
Latham managed to glove the ball which swelled behind the wicketkeeper and the outfielder had plenty of time to move around and put it in his pocket.
Henry Nicholls (22) dragged a delivery from Nauman on his stumps but Mitchell’s arrival provided no respite from Pakistan’s tiresome attack.
Mitchell’s reverse swept the second ball he faced, from Nauman, for a four and in the spinner’s next he hit it for a six.
Mohammad Wasim was treated with the same disdain, Mitchell hitting the seamer for four successive fours.
Mitchell’s entertaining shot was cut short when he missed his reverse sweep against Abrar.
Williamson had an lbw decision overturned against him and survived a stump opportunity before hitting his one hundred with a single against Wasim.
While their bowling lacked firepower, Pakistan’s fielding was also sloppy, best exemplified when Imam-ul-Haq and Abrar ran to chase a Blundell skier only for the two to retreat to the last moment.
Mid-order hitters Daryl Mitchell (42) and Tom Blundell (47) missed half a century, but New Zealand still finished day three with an impressive 440-6 and optimistic of a handy lead .
Williamson was at bat on 105, his 25th Test cent, with Ish Sodhi on the other end.
Earlier Devon Conway fell for 92 but Tom Latham couldn’t deprive himself of his century after New Zealand took over the 165 unbeaten at the National Stadium.
Nauman Ali turned one in front of the bat and into Conway’s pad to pull out the opener who was initially not ruled out but had to leave after Pakistan reviewed umpire Aleem Dar’s decision.
Latham struck out a single from Abrar Ahmed to win his 13th Test cent, the most by a New Zealand flyhalf, in his 69th game.
Latham used his feet against the spinners and looked confident until a reverse sweep attempt against Abrar resulted in his fall.
Latham managed to glove the ball which swelled behind the wicketkeeper and the outfielder had plenty of time to move around and put it in his pocket.
Henry Nicholls (22) dragged a delivery from Nauman on his stumps but Mitchell’s arrival provided no respite from Pakistan’s tiresome attack.
Mitchell’s reverse swept the second ball he faced, from Nauman, for a four and in the spinner’s next he hit it for a six.
Mohammad Wasim was treated with the same disdain, Mitchell hitting the seamer for four successive fours.
Mitchell’s entertaining shot was cut short when he missed his reverse sweep against Abrar.
Williamson had an lbw decision overturned against him and survived a stump opportunity before hitting his one hundred with a single against Wasim.
While their bowling lacked firepower, Pakistan’s fielding was also sloppy, best exemplified when Imam-ul-Haq and Abrar ran to chase a Blundell skier only for the two to retreat to the last moment.
