Pakistan lose two wickets at zero after New Zealand set 319-run target

New Zealand have set Pakistan a target of 319 runs in the second Test of the series in Karachi on Thursday. 

The visitors declared their second innings at 277-5 with fifties by Tom Latham, Tom Blundell and Michael Bracewell. 

Bracewell (74 not out) and Blundell (74) added 127 runs for the fifth wicket to help their side set a competitive target. Meanwhile, Latham scored 62 runs. 

In reply, Pakistan lost two quick wickets in their second innings and were reduced to 0-2 at stumps on day four.

Opener Abdullah Shafique and nightwatchman Mir Hamza were dismissed for a duck with Tim Southee and Ish Sodhi bagging a wicket each. 

Earlier, the visitors took a lead of 41 runs in the first innings after dismissing Pakistan for 408 in the morning session of day four on Thursday.

Pakistan lost their last five wickets for 23 runs only as the home side slumped from 385-5 to 408 all out.

Saud Shakeel was the star of the show for Pakistan in the first innings after scoring his maiden Test century on the third day. He could only add one run to his overnight score of 124 and remained unbeaten. The left-hander’s impressive knock included 17 fours.

Ish Sodhi quickly wrapped up things after trapping Abrar Ahmed in front of the stumps in the first over of the fourth day.

Spinners Ajaz Patel and Sodhi claimed three wickets each.

The other main contributors in Pakistan’s first innings were Imam-ul-Haq (83) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (78). Meanwhile, Agha Salman chipped in with 41 runs.

Yesterday, New Zealand hit back, after Shakeel’s century, to keep Pakistan to 407-9 at the close of the third day of the second Test in Karachi.

Shakeel has kept his end intact — batting all day Wednesday, and adding 83 for the fourth wicket with Imam-ul-Haq (83) and 150 for the fifth with Sarfaraz Ahmed (78).

Shakeel was lucky to get a life off pacer Tim Southee when Tom Latham grassed a simple catch at short cover when the batter was on 102.

With wickets falling at the other end, Shakeel went into a shell, scoring just 23 runs in the final session.

He completed his century before tea when he swept spinner Michael Bracewell for a boundary and then took a sharp single to reach three figures in 319 minutes of stoic batting.