KARACHI: Devon Conway hit his fourth Check hundred to assist New Zealand construct a robust complete within the second Check in opposition to Pakistan on Monday.
Conway and his opening associate Tom Latham (71) added a second successive century stand earlier than Naseem Shah introduced the lone success when he had Latham trapped leg earlier than wicket of a full supply after lunch as New Zealand reached a stable 226-1 at tea.
Conway was unbeaten on 120 off 179 balls and former captain Kane Williamson, who scored an unbeaten 200 within the drawn first Check, reached 29 on the break.
Conway and Latham shared 134 runs on a wicket which had some grass and tempted Pakistan to incorporate an additional quick bowler and go along with just one specialist spinner — Abrar Ahmed.
Each lefthanded opening batters dominated the tempo and spin within the first session to supply 119 runs and even confirmed aggression in opposition to Abrar’s thriller spin after Tim Southee received the toss and elected to bat.
Left-arm quick bowler Mir Hamza twice got here near gaining a breakthrough in his return spell earlier than lunch, however first Latham efficiently overturned onfield umpire Alex Wharf’s lbw ruling after which Pakistan went for an unsuccessful leg earlier than wicket TV referral in opposition to Conway earlier than he additionally accomplished a half-century.
Hasan Ali, in his return to Check cricket, twice discovered the perimeters of Conway’s bat in successive overs after lunch solely to see the ball fall wanting Abdullah Shafique within the slips after which Saud Shakeel couldn’t maintain onto a pointy likelihood within the gully whereas diving full size to his proper.
Conway accomplished his century off 156 balls with 13 fours and a six with a flick of Hamza to midwicket and ran three whereas Williamson additionally saved the bowlers at bay together with his decided batting.
Earlier, Latham and Conway accomplished their half centuries earlier than lunch and offered New Zealand a stable begin.
Each batters motored New Zealand to 63 inside the primary hour and batted aggressively in opposition to quick bowlers Naseem Shah and Hasan Ali, who made comebacks to Check cricket.
Conway used his toes nicely as soon as the lone specialist spinner Abrar Ahmed was launched as early as within the ninth over. Conway raised New Zealand’s half-century with a six in opposition to the thriller spinner over broad mid-on as Pakistan struggled to get by means of the defenses.
New Zealand, on its first Check tour to Pakistan since 2002, had made a robust bid to chase down 138 within the final hour of the primary Check of the two-match sequence final Friday after Pakistan captain Babar Azam made a daring declaration. Poor visibility halted the Black Caps at 61-1 within the eighth over to attract the sport.
Hasan was recalled having final performed for Pakistan in opposition to Sri Lanka in July and lacking the 3-0 whitewash by the hands of England final month.
Naseem additionally returned after absolutely recovering from the shoulder damage that sidelined him from the final two Exams in opposition to England and the primary Check in opposition to the Black Caps.
New Zealand made one change, taking part in quick bowler Matt Henry instead of Neil Wagner.
Friday’s draw broke each crew’s four-match shedding streaks, which included 3-0 losses for every in opposition to England.
The Pakistan Cricket Board was pressured to prepare each Check matches in Karachi because of climate considerations in Multan, the place winter smog and fog have delayed flights and will have disrupted hours of play.
Pakistan is languishing at No. 7 on the ICC world Check championship desk whereas New Zealand has endured much more disappointment and is eighth regardless of beating India within the inaugural WTC last at Lord’s final 12 months.