After conceding 234 runs while picking only a couple of wickets, the Pakistan bowlers came back in style and reduced New Zealand to 309/6 at the end of the opening day’s play in the ongoing second Test at Karachi’s National Stadium. Agha Salman, in particular, was the wrecker-in-chief, bagging a three-wicket haul for 55 runs in 20 overs.
Salman dismissed centurion Devon Conway and broke the 100-run partnership between the left-handed opener and skipper Kane Williamson. Salman picked up two more wickets in the form of Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell. His dismissal of Mitchell, however, attracted maximum eyeballs.
Salman bowled a peach of a delivery to clean up Mitchell in the 69th over of New Zealand’s first innings. The spinner went for a classical off-spin which pitched right on the money to draw the right-hand batter forward. As Mitchell tried to defend the ball, the red cherry pierced through the tiny gap between the bat and the pad, and hit the stumps.
Here is the video:
Spun through the gate 🎯@SalmanAliAgha1 delivers a beauty ✨#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/mxEbMbkftv
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 2, 2023
Apart from Salman, Naseem Shah also impressed one and all with his disciplined bowling throughout the opening day. He drew the first blood in the form of Tom Latham before joining hands with Salman to pick two more scalps, triggering a batting collapse of the Black Caps. Naseem bagged three scalps for 46 runs in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, after electing to bat first, the visitors started strongly as Conway stitched together crucial stands of 134 and 100 with Latham and Williamson. It was Conway’s fourth Test century, and he also surpassed the 1000-run benchmark.
“It’s been a good ride so far. I’ve only played a handful of Test games, so it’s nice to get the opportunity to play and contribute to the team. It was nice batting out there with Tommy Latham and Kane, we managed to form some good partnerships,” Conway told the reporters.
