New Zealand vs Pakistan, 1st Test: Gritty Kane Williamson Lifts New Zealand After Early Pakistan Strike On Day 1 | Cricket News

An unbeaten 94 by a gritty Kane Williamson had New Zealand at 222 for 3 within the face of a concerted Pakistan assault at stumps on day one of many first Test in Mount Maunganui on Saturday. Henry Nicholls was the opposite not out batsman on 42 as New Zealand recovered from being 13 for 2 after Pakistan’s baby-faced destroyer Shaheen Afridi eliminated openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell cheaply on a inexperienced, seaming wicket. In a 120-run stand, crammed with willpower and focus in tough circumstances, Williamson and Ross Taylor pulled New Zealand again into the sport.

Taylor hit 10 fours and a six as he attacked the bowling whereas Williams was extra conservative. 

After Afridi cut up the pair with a masterful piece of bowling to take away Taylor for 70, Williamson and Henry Nicholls added an additional 89. 

Taylor was set as much as fall by Afridi who bowled full, quick then a bouncer in successive deliveries and adopted with a good-length, rising ball that Taylor couldn’t resist slashing at.

But he succeeded solely in feathering the ball to Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps. 

The 20-year-old Afridi, together with his child face and standing 1.99 metres (6ft 6in) tall, additionally eliminated Latham for 4 and Blundell for 5 to finish the day with three for 55. 

 Mohammad Abbas, whereas not taking a wicket, saved the batsmen pinned down and conceded solely 25 runs off his 21 overs.

Afridi’s opening onslaught had New Zealand at two for 13 earlier than Williamson and Taylor mixed in a century partnership, their 10th collectively.

By stumps, Williamson had confronted 243 deliveries after being within the center for all however the first three balls earlier than Latham was dismissed.

The closest Pakistan got here to dismissing the New Zealand captain got here earlier than lunch with Williamson on 18 when Shan Masood spilled a tough one-handed probability low to his left. 

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Naseem Shah was the unlucky bowler and the teenaged fast was to undergo once more when he tempted Nicholls, on six, to hook a brief ball just for Mohammad Abbas, ready for the catch at lengthy leg, to drop the regulation probability. 

It was a continuation of the great fortune going Nicholls’ means after he was dropped 5 occasions on his method to 174 in his final innings towards the West Indies.