Pakistan takes 2 NZ wickets near lunch on day 2, 2nd test

New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell shared a half-century stand n were both out close to lunch Monday on second day of second cricket test against Pakistan.

Latham and Blundell h given New Zealand a solid start in reply to Pakistan’s first innings of 297, reaching 52 in a partnership which occupied most of first session.

Pakistan n struck back decisively. Faheem Ashraf trapped Blundell lbw when he was 16 and five balls later Shaheen Afridi removed Latham for 33.

At lunch New Zealand h moved onto 66-2 with Kane Williamson 4 t out and Ross Taylor on 10.

New Zealand openers h appeared mostly comfortable in a partnership which occupied 94 minutes. Hagley Oval pitch h provided pace, bounce and seam through most of first day after New Zealand won toss and bowled and Pakistan batted superbly for a total close to 300.

Azhar Ali me 93, Mohamm Rizwan 61 and Faheem 48, surmounting extremely challenging conditions. Kyle Jamieson took 5-69, his third five-wicket bag in six tests.

pitch seemed likely to have settled when New Zealand began its first innings Monday as it baked under sun; New Zealand opening pair h only a few alarms on ir way to a 50 partnership from 19.4 overs.

Latham, batting at his home ground, knew conditions well eugh to leave confidently on both line and bounce. Blundell, whose most potent scoring shots are cut and pull, batted outside his crease to negate fuller delivery that still swung.

Despite that, Latham fell lbw to Faheem in 20th over. Pushing forward hesitantly, he was struck on front p by a ball that swung in late. umpire turned down Pakistan’s vociferous lbw appeal but decision was reviewed and replay showed ball hitting stumps.

Latham’s dismissal was extraordinary. Naseem was finding good bounce and removed Latham with a delivery which was angled into him and both bounced and moved away.

ball flew directly to Shan Masood at second slip but he couldn’t hold onto catch. Inste, ball deflected to Haris Sohail, at first slip, who cupped a brilliant reaction catch.

Im credits: @icc / Twitter