Visitors bowled out for 216 on a rain-hit day after cameos by Sarfraz Ahmed and Sohail Khan - Tim Southee with 6-80.

By Abdullah Ansari (27th November, 2016)

Toss: Pakistan won the toss, Azhar Ali opted to bowl first.

Teams

New Zealand: TWM Latham, JA Raval, KS Williamson (c), LPRL Taylor, HM Nicholls, C de Grandhomme, BJ Watling (wk), MJ Santner, TG Southee, MJ Henry, N Wagner.

Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan.

Play began with Pakistan 195 runs behind. After a couple of relatively quiet overs, Sarfraz took the attack to Southee with three fours in an over though he gave a chance to Nicholls who grassed it. He also survived a run out chance after slipping in the next over and continued to attack the bowlers, Southee going for another three boundaries in the next over. Wagner came on to bowl and things quietened down a bit as Babar got to his 2nd Test fifty. Wagner was the one to make the breakthrough as Sarfraz tried to drive a good length delivery and edged it to Raval for 41. Sohail came out firing as he top-edged Wagner for sixes off consecutive deliveries. He hit another couple of fours off Wagner as the bowlers faltered a little with their lines. The fifty partnership was reached as Babar went passed his previous highest score of 69 with a glorious on-drive. Southee returned and made the breakthrough, getting Sohail caught behind with a good delivery after a contribution of 37. Wahab didn't last long as he was plumb LBW to de Grandhomme. New Zealand took a review against Babar for LBW to no avail and the session came to a premature end 10 mins before Lunch due to rain.

The delay was a considerable one with rain not always heavy but persistent. After over an hour and a half, play resumed but only for an over before the rain returned. This time the delay was a longer one of well over two hours. Play resumed with Babar into the 80s but Southee once again came to dismiss Amir this time, completing a five-wicket haul. Babar moved to 90 but Imran couldn't survive despite getting his first runs in international cricket as Southee got the last wicket to fall as well with the 22-year old stranded after an excellent knock. New Zealand took a 55-run lead. Only one ball was bowled in the New Zealand innings before the rain returned - this time it was heavy and no further play was possible.

Summary: Just over a session of play was possible on Day 3 but it was a day that will give hope to Pakistani fans. The batsmen finally showed fight with Babar Azam leading the way, showing maturity beyond anyone's expectations. It was a pity that none of the last three tailenders could hang around long enough for Babar to get to his hundred but Pakistan managed to add another 140 runs on the day in just around 38 overs thanks to some positive intent at last. The lead was kept down to 55 and Pakistan will hope for some early wickets to put New Zealand under pressure.

Fall of wickets:

6-125 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 41.1 ov)
7-192 (Sohail Khan, 56.2 ov)
8-193 (Wahab Riaz, 57.5 ov)
9-206 (Mohammad Amir, 64.4 ov)
10-216 (Imran Khan, 66.6 ov)

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