Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Test Day 3: New Zealand edge passed Pakistan's 1st Innings total thanks to Latham and Williamson

New Zealand's Kane Williamson (105*) and Tom Latham (113) both hit centuries to guide the tourists passed Pakistan’s 1^st Innings total of 438 today, at the National Stadium, Karachi.

Match Summary

Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Test, New Zealand tour of Pakistan

Pakistan 438/10 (130.5 ov)

New Zealand *440/6 (136 ov)

Day Break : Day 3 New Zealand lead by 2 runs

SCORECARD

?? for Kane Williamson! His 25th in Test cricket. 206 balls, 322 minutes, 11 fours.
Follow play LIVE in NZ with @skysportnz and @SENZ_Radio. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/zq07kr4Kwt #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/YrPr9UUiwE

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 28, 2022

Match Report

Kane Williamson and Tom Latham hit contrasting hundreds Wednesday to propel New Zealand to 440-6 at the close on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Karachi.

Williamson survived two stumpings and a leg-before decision before knocking an unbeaten 105, while Ish Sodhi was on one, with the tourists leading by two runs.

Williamson's 25th Test century is his first in international cricket since he racked up 238, also against Pakistan, in Christchurch in January last year.

He built on a solid foundation laid down by openers Latham, who cracked 113 en route to his 13th Test century, and Devon Conway, who fell for 92.

With the National Stadium pitch likely to take spin on the last two days, New Zealand will look to press home their advantage in the first Test of the two-match series, their first in Pakistan since 2002.

Williamson pushed fast bowler Mohammad Wasim for a sharp single to complete his hundred, a fifth against Pakistan.

In all he has batted for 356 minutes, cracking 11 boundaries.

But Pakistan were left ruing missed chances as wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed fumbled two stumpings with Williamson on 15 and 21 -- spinner Nauman Ali the unlucky bowler on both occasions.

"I think they were chances but one of the deliveries was on the leg side and Sarfaraz did his best," said Nauman.

"This pitch is on the slow side so our effort will be to get the last four wickets early on day four and then set a good target of close to 200 -- which will be good on this pitch."

Match Stats

Pakistan Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Abdullah Shafique - 3.3 ov), 2-19 (Shan Masood - 6.1 ov), 3-48 (Imam ul Haq - 14.6 ov), 4-110 (Saud Shakeel - 28.6 ov), 5-306 (Sarfaraz Ahmed - 85.3 ov), 6-318 (Babar Azam - 90.4 ov), 7-372 (Nauman Ali - 116.5 ov), 8-375 (Mohammad Wasim - 117.6 ov), 9-414 (Mir Hamza - 125.6 ov), 10-438 (Agha Salman - 130.5 ov)

New Zealand Fall of wickets: 1-183 (Devon Conway - 52.6 ov), 2-231 (Tom Latham - 69.5 ov), 3-272 (Henry Nicholls - 80.2 ov), 4-337 (Daryl Mitchell - 94.4 ov), 5-427 (Tom Blundell - 126.6 ov)

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), Agha Salman, Nauman Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Mir Hamza, Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (C), Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel

Match Details:

Date: Monday, December 26, 2022 05:00

Venue: National Stadium, Karachi

Toss: Pakistan won the toss & elected to bat