New Zealand spinners smell blood after double strike
Pakistan lost two wickets without scoring in their chase of the 319 winning target against New Zealand at the end of an eventful fourth day of the second Test on Thursday.
New Zealand set up their bid for a series victory in their first Test tour to Pakistan in 20 years after declaring their second innings on 277-5 and using the last three overs of the day to bowl opener Abdullah Shafique and nightwatchman Mir Hamza.
Pakistan were 0-2 at stumps and have to beat their previous highest successful chase of 314 runs in 1994 when Australia were beaten by one wicket at the same National Stadium.
On a day when the umpires made misjudgements, New Zealand left no doubt when captain Tim Southee knocked back Shafique's off stump off the second ball which kept a bit low and Ish Sodhi clean bowled Hamza for a pair in the match to leave Pakistan in deep trouble.
Tom Blundell (74) and Michael Bracewell (74 not out) firmed up New Zealand's ambitions with a 127-run stand. Blundell holed out in the deep as New Zealand looked for quick runs and Southee made a late declaration.
“We feel like we've got all bases covered in terms of throwing a few shots at Pakistan tomorrow,” Bracewell said. “Ish Sodhi showed that when he's coming around the wicket and bowling into the rough there's certainly a lot of assistance. "We're going to have to be pretty smart with how we use our bowlers tomorrow to try and get the most out of what turn's on offer on the wicket."
New Zealand took a 41-run, first-innings lead after dismissing Pakistan for 408, then umpires Alex Wharf and Aleem Dar took center stage after lunch.
New Zealand successfully overturned Wharf 's two leg before decisions in favour of leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and Dar erred when his caught behind ruling against Henry Nicholls (5) was overturned. Pakistan didn't go for an lbw referral after Tom Latham (62) hit his second successive half-century of the match. —