Possibly the greatest test of strength of character for Pakistan's new found confidence awaits them on Day 3. McCullum has so far been absolutley ruthless in his approach with Kane Williamson not far behind. Pakistan will look for early wickets tomorrow morning or mentally prepare themselves for a very hard few days ahead in this Test match.

By Azfar Khan (28th November, 2014)

First session of Day 2 started with Pakistan continuing with their Day 1 score of 281/3 and Mohammad Hafeez who remained unbeaten on 178. New Zealand started their session by introducing new bowling pair of Daniel Vettori and Southee. New Zealand didn't have to wait for long as the bowling pair struck early when Misbah-ul-Haq nicked Southee's delivery to Watling in the fourth over of the day. Misbah went for 38 runs adding nothing to his overnight total and a good partnership of 125 runs between Hafeez and Misbah came to an end.

Pakistan were 285/4 when Asad Shafiq joined Mohammad Hafeez at the crease. Their partnership looked promising for 26 runs where Asad scored one boundary off Vettori and Hafeez scored 2 more boundaries to reach his highest Test score of 197. Hafeez looked all set for a double hundred until he pulled and top edged a half tracker by Ish Sodhi to deep forward square leg for an easy catch to Boult, reducing Pakistan to 311/4.

Shafiq was joined by Sarfraz Ahmed who immediately got off the mark by a single but Pakistan lost another quick wicket in the next over as Asad threw his wicket away by sweeping one straight to backward square leg fielder. Pakistan were 313/6 when Yasir Shah walked in to the middle and the two had a good little partnership until Sarfraz edged one to Watling off Craig's bowling. 

Sarfraz's dismissal for 15 meant that Pakistan were 336/7 when Talha and then Rahat both joined Yasir at the crease only to depart with out contributing anything with the bat. Mark Craig thus had his first 5 Wicket haul. 

Lower order batting continued to disappoint as Yasir added only 25 runs to the team total before getting out to Craig's bowling. Pakistan were bowled out for 351 before lunch and New Zealand batted went into the interval with 7/0.

The second session started with Brendon McCullum batting with an aggressive approach, where he dispatched everything coming at him towards the boundary. Latham supported him well for a 50 Run stand and got out top edging one off Rahat Ali's bowling. New Zealand were 51/1 when Kane Williamson joined his captain. New Zealand continued with their attacking approach with McCullum and Williamson as they both brought up 100 run partnership in under 16 overs. McCullum reached his hundred in 78 balls before going to tea.

NZ resumed after tea with same fireworks from McCullum and Williamson, Both Babar and Talha were taken to the cleaners, the rest were not spared either. Their partnership of 198 was brought up in under 37 overs and Misbah and Pakistan looked dejected at the ongoing onslaught by the kiwi batsman. NewZwaland end the day at 249/1 when umpires, much to the relief of the shell shocked Pakistan fielders, decided that it was too dark to continue for the day.

Possibly the greatest test of strength of character for Pakistan's new found confidence awaits them on Day 3. McCullum has so far been absolutley ruthless in his approach with Kane Williamson not far behind. Pakistan will look for early wickets tomorrow morning or mentally prepare themselves for a very hard few days ahead in this Test match.

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