Six for Southee as tourists fight back

With the fifth five-wicket haul of his test career, and his first in more than three-and-a-half years, Black Caps pace spearhead Tim Southee kept his side in control of the second test against Pakistan in Hamilton yesterday.

The Kiwi paceman snared 6-80 off 21 overs at Seddon Park as the tourists were bowled out for 216 in reply to New Zealand’s 271, on a rain-interrupted third day.

Having claimed three quick scalps on the evening of day two to leave Pakistan reeling at 76-5 overnight, Southee finished the job to snuff out a stoic fightback from Pakistan, whose No 3 Babar Azam finished 90 not out.

The visitors surrendered a 55-run first innings advantage, as Southee claimed his first bag since May 2013, against England at Lord’s, and kept his impressive early-season form running.

‘‘It’s always nice to pick up wickets,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve obviously had a few niggles over the last wee while, and the body feels pretty good and [I’m] back into playing some consistent cricket, which is nice.’’

Southee missed the recent India ODI series with an ankle injury, but performed well in the first-test win in Christchurch in coming away with five wickets, following an outing for Northern Districts where he claimed seven, also at Seddon.

It’s a ground which he continues to love, having now nabbed 32 test wickets there at an average of just 18.90, compared to a career average of 31.53.

‘‘It is one of the few grounds around the world that the main wind actually assists a right-arm outswing bowler, so that’s always nice,’’ he said.

But after the day dawned fine, it wasn’t all easy going for the Kiwi pacemen, who were made to toil, with Babar combining with Sarfraz Ahmed (41 off 44 balls) and Sohail Khan (37 off 47) for stands of 74 and 67 on what had begun as a very seamer-friendly surface, but didn’t seem to be as threatening.