Openers Tom Latham and Dion Conway scored half-centuries on Monday to take New Zealand to 119 for no loss by lunch on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan in Karachi.
After New Zealand won the toss and batted, Latham was unbeaten on 67 for his 24th half-century while Conway was equally strong on 51.
The pitch at the National Stadium — where the first Test ended in a draw on Friday — has a hint of grass, but Pakistan’s pace bowlers failed to capitalize on the early moisture.
Latham, who overturned the decision on 42 off fast bowler Mir Hamzah, has hit nine fours so far, while Conway has hit seven fours and a six.
Pakistan dismissed Abrar Ahmed in the ninth over, but there was no sign of a turnaround as Conway hit a boundary and a six in the spinner’s second over.
Judging by the pre-match assessment of the pitch, Pakistan strengthened their pace attack by dropping Naseem Shah and Hasan Ali, spinner Nouman Ali and fast bowler Mohammad Wasim.
New Zealand replaced Neil Wagner with fast bowler Matt Henry in their only change.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (w), Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Dion Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (w), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee (c), Ash Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ijaz Patel
