Sports Report
KARACHI: Tom Latham and Devon Conway forged an unbroken opening partnership of 165 runs to lead New Zealand’s robust reply to Pakistan’s first-innings 438 on day two of the opening test in Karachi on Tuesday.
Devon Conway was batting on 82 runs, having completed 1,000 test runs in 19 innings, the fastest by a New Zealand batter.
Tom Latham was on 78 with New Zealand, who scored at three-and-a-half runs an over, still 273 behind.
After Pakistan resumed 317-5 on day two, skipper Babar Azam fell in the first over; however, the lower order, led by Agha Salman’s maiden test hundred, strongly resisted New Zealand’s attack.
Babar Azam could not add to his overnight score of 161 runs and was caught behind off the bowling of Tim Southee, but the collapse New Zealand wanted to do not materialize.
Batting with the tailenders, Agha Salman cleverly rotated the strike and scored his hundred with back-to-back fours off New Zealand’s spinner Ish Sodhi.
Agha Salman was the last Pakistan wicket to fall, trapped lbw by Tim Southee (3-69) after trying to hit the bowler over the midwicket field. Agha Salman’s defiant 103 runs included 17 fours.
Pak vs NZ: New Zealand batting
Devon Conway and Tom Latham denied Pakistan an early breakthrough and shared a century-opening partnership before Pakistan created an opportunity.
Conway was on 57 when he tried a cut shot against left-arm spinner Nauman Ali and Pakistan’s half-hearted appeal for caught-behind was refused.
Nauman Ali looked convinced Devon Conway had edged the ball, and replays later confirmed it, but Babar Azam, standing in the slips, chose not to review the decision.
Conway and Latham needed help dealing with young Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed, who claimed 17 wickets in two matches in his debut series against England this month.
Babar bowled three overs, but his part-time off-spin failed to make the breakthrough.
