On a day when both teams exchanged blows, New Zealand was able to reduce Tea’s lead to 85 thanks to a ton from Tom Latham and Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 66.
In a counterattacking 65-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell, the former New Zealand captain hit seven fours and a six in a 47-ball 42 before top-edging a sweep off Abrar Ahmed.
After Pakistan’s spinners threatened to take control, it helped establish New Zealand’s position in the game. The pacers for the hosts had started the day well by preventing the batters from getting away, which set the tone for what was to come.
In his first over of the day, Nauman Ali was able to hit a shot when he came in. A sharp turner off the rough struck Devon Conway on the front pad when he was eight short of 100.
The stand-in skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed, sent the decision to the third umpire after Babar Azam missed the first session due to the flu. Pakistan won, breaking the 183-run partnership.
Despite the fact that they did not always appear to be in control, Williamson and Latham added 48 runs for the second wicket. Latham scored his 13th Test ton, the most by a New Zealand opener, with safe miscued sweeps and reverse sweeps.
happiness was short-lived
That happiness was short-lived, as he quickly lost to Abrar in a reverse sweep. Williamson also experienced nervous moments following this. He was saved first by the review, which gave him an inside advantage that overturned a 13-round LBW decision against Abrar.
He ran down the track two runs later, missed a stumping from Nauman, and had luck on his side because Sarfraz was blinded down the legside as well.
Henry Nicholls also survived an LBW review after missing a sharp turner from Nauman, and Pakistan continued to ask questions until the final was over.
However, in the subsequent session, the bowler had his man when Nicholls chopped while attempting to cut, leaving New Zealand at 272/3. If Sarfraz had not missed another stumping attempt against Williamson on 17, Nauman might have had another.
However, Williamson set the tone by lofting Nauman down the ground shortly after his close shave, and New Zealand did not allow this phase of the game to get in the way of their chances. It also made it possible for Mitchell, a newcomer, to get going, and hard sweeps and erroneous lofts all resulted in crucial runs that allowed New Zealand to shift the pressure.
Williamson didn’t give up when Mitchell fell 8 short of a fifty, and he continued to play solidly until Tea on the third day.
Brief ratings: Devon Conway’s 92, Tom Latham’s 113, Kane Williamson’s 66*, and Daryl Mitchell’s 42 put New Zealand ahead of Pakistan’s 438 (Babar Azam’s 161, Agha Salman’s 103; by 85 runs (Tim Southee, 3-69)