Pakistan loosen its grip in Test as New Zealand doesn't let any breathing space

New Zealanders appealing for caught behind of Imam-ul-Haq

After losing quick wickets late on Day one, New Zealand didn't merely put any foot wrong throughout the day in Karachi. 

Earlier in the day, overnight batter Tom Blundell batted enormously hard for his half-century - putting a solid stand with captain Tim Southee. 

However, Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel set the record for the highest 10th wicket stand - a 104-run partnership - by a visiting batting pair in Pakistan -- which helped the Blackcaps put a firm grip by putting a first innings total of 449 runs.

Kiwis bowlers continued on Henry-Patel's momentum

The Southee-led lineup didn't let the Pakistan batters any breathing space, as they bowled on their strengths and kept drowning the home team in deep waters. 

The first breakthrough was provided by a short-ball off Henry when Abdullah Shafique mistimed a pull straight into the hands of Patel at deep square leg. After taking the catch, the left-arm spinner took the wicket of an aggressive-looking Shan Masood.

However, after losing two quick scalps, skipper Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq studded a solid stand. Runs kept ticking for the duo, but then a miscommunication led to Babar's wicket.

In the fag-end of the day, Imam got partnered by Saud Shakeel, where the former batted aggressively to notch another fifty in the winter; while the latter just showed the dead bat to the Kiwi bowlers.

Brief Score:

New Zealand - 449-10 (131 overs)
Devon Conway - 122, Tom Latham - 71
Abrar Ahmed - 4/149 (39), Naseem Shah - 3/71 (24)

Pakistan - 154/3 (47 overs)
Imam-ul-Haq - 62*, Babar Azam - 24
Ajaz Patel - 1/30 (7), Matt Henry - 1/35 (12)

Pakistan trail by 295 runs.

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