Openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway smashed half-centuries Monday, guiding New Zealand to 119 without loss at lunch on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan in Karachi.
Latham was unbeaten on 67 for his 24th half-century, while Conway was equally solid on 51 after New Zealand won the toss and batted.
The pitch at the National Stadium — where the first Test ended in a tame draw on Friday — has a hint of grass, but Pakistan’s pacers failed to exploit the early moisture.
Latham, who overturned a leg-before decision off pacer Mir Hamza on 42, has hit nine boundaries, while Conway has seven fours and a six.
Pakistan brought on Abrar Ahmed in the ninth over, but there was no sign of turn as Conway smashed a boundary and a six off the spinner’s second over.
Considering the pre-match assessment of the pitch, Pakistan strengthened their pace attack by bringing in Naseem Shah and Hasan Ali, dropping spinner Nauman Ali and fast-bowler Mohammad Wasim.
New Zealand brought in pacer Matt Henry for Neil Wagner in their only change.
In the first Test, Pakistan staved off a fifth consecutive defeat at home with a hard-fought draw despite career-best bowling figures from New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.
Sodhi grabbed 6-86 and threatened to give New Zealand victory in the first two sessions on the fifth and final day, but Pakistan fought on before declaring their second innings on 311-8.
New Zealand, who abandoned their white-ball tour of Pakistan last year due to security concerns, are looking to end a run of four straight test defeats with Southee as the new captain following the six-year tenure of Kane Williamson.
Pakistan is seeking to overcome a similar slump, including England’s 3-0 home series defeat in the two-test series against the New Zealanders.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee (c), Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel
