Southee, Wagner give New Zealand the advantage

Tim Southee’s opening three-wicket burst to send back Pakistan’s top order and Neil Wagner’s double strike scripted the visiting side’s collapse to 76 for 5 at stumps on day two of the second Test on Saturday (November 26).

That meant Pakistan was still 195 runs behind New Zealand, after BJ Watling’s steady 49 not out had helped post 271 in the first innings at Seddon Park.

Babar Azam was batting at 34 not out and Sarfraz Ahmed unbeaten on 9.

Southee, getting the ball to seam away with a mixture of short and full-length deliveries, benefitted from some rash shots from the Pakistan batsmen.

He removed both openers in the fifth over of the reply – his third of the game – and sent back the experienced Younis Khan for 2, Watling holding on to an outside edge, to have Pakistan 12 for 3 in 8.5.

Azam and Asad Shafiq steadied the innings with a 39-run stand for the fourth wicket, before Wagner struck twice in the 22nd over..

He bowled Shafiq (23) then followed up with a short ball to Mohammad Rizwan, which Rizwan hooked to Matt Henry on the boundary for a golden duck on his Test debut.

At the close, Southee had figures of 3 for 26 while Wagner had 2 for 15.

Earlier, New Zealand resumed on 77 for 2 after rain washed out most of the first day. However, it was rocked by three early wickets.

Ross Taylor (37) cold add just eight to his overnight score before he was caught behind off Sohail Khan.

Jeet Raval, the opener, made the most of sloppy fielding from Pakistan, but finally ran out of luck at 55, caught at first slip by Rizwan off Imran Khan.

When Wahab Riaz had Henry Nicholls (13) caught behind, New Zealand was in some trouble at 119 for 5.

Watling then steadied the ship with useful stands down the order. He added 51 with Colin de Grandhomme (37), 33 with Mitchell Santner (16), 36 with Southee (29) and 31 with Matt Henry (15).

Southee, for his part, played an aggressive knock. His 28-ball 29 included five fours and a six before he was bowled by a slower one from Sohail.

Watling finally ran out of partners in the third over after tea and was left stranded at 49 not out.

For Pakistan, Sohail took 4 for 99 and Imran 3 for 52.

New Zealand leads the two-match series 1-0.