Tom Latham and Kane Williamson put on an unbroken 71-run winning streak to extend New Zealand’s lead to 117 by lunchtime on the fourth day of the second Test in Karachi. The visitors rolled out Pakistan for 408 and took the last remaining wicket in the morning’s first over, but were beaten free early in the second inning by in-form Devon Conway.
With a lead of just 41 runs, Mirhamza gave the hosts the start they needed. He hit his first pitch – a long ball tweaked slightly and bounced off the stump of Conway’s block. However, the rest of the session was marred by some bad DRS reviews from Pakistan on both sides of the drink break. Abrar Ahmed twice convinced Babar Azam to bring up the LBW complaint against Kane Williamson, and the Pakistani captain did so, albeit reluctantly. Both slipped off his feet. He reached 14th place, becoming the fifth man to complete 7000 test runs in third place and the first man from New Zealand.
The pair steadily recovered from the early defeat. Latham played some delicious drives, but luckily got to the line a few more and harmlessly passed a slip fielder.
Hasan Ali gave Williamson some short balls early on, but the former captain dragged them into the fence to continue the run. Just before the break Pakistan launched spins from both ends, but Aga Salman started with a few loose balls, which Latham duly punished. He also received a call from LBW on the 36th, but was overruled in a review that the impact was outside. In the morning, New Zealand needed him only six balls to end Pakistan’s first innings on 408. Ish sodhi caught Abrar in solder up front and helped his side start with his 41-run lead.
Brief scores: New Zealand 449 & 76/1 (Tom Latham 37*, Kane Wiliamson 29*; Mir Hamza 1-9) lead Pakistan 408, by 117 runs.