Duo added 196 after New Zealand picked up four wickets in opening session
\n KARACHI
\nCaptain Babar Azam struck an unbeaten 161 as Pakistan overcame a wobbly start to score 317-5 against New Zealand on the first day of the opening test at Karachi\u2019s National Stadium on Monday.
\nBabar rode his luck in a 277-ball innings which contained 15 fours and a big six to bring up his century while Agha Salman was unbeaten on three at stumps after New Zealand failed to capitalise on a strong start with the ball.
\nBabar opted to bat first and the touring side began their first test in Pakistan in 20 years by taking two quick wickets via stumpings, with Ajaz Patel removing Abdullah Shafique for seven and spin partner Michael Bracewell dismissing Shan Masood for three.
\nBracewell could have had the key wicket of Babar in the 15th over, but Daryl Mitchell dropped a simple chance at first slip, though the bowler responded by having Imam-ul-Haq caught for 24 at mid-off three deliveries later.
\nPakistan recovered from the early blows as Babar reached his half-century, but New Zealand skipper Tim Southee reduced them to 110-4 when Saud Shakeel (22) edged one to Henry Nicholls at gully shortly before lunch.
\nBabar continued his rescue act after the break, however, reaching his ninth test century in the company of Sarfaraz Ahmed, who made 86 in his first test since 2019 after replacing wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan in the side.
\nBabar enjoyed an excellent 196-run partnership with Sarfaraz before Patel dismissed the former captain when he edged one to Mitchell at first slip shortly before the close.
\nNew 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.
\nPakistan are seeking to overcome a similar slump, including a 3-0 home series defeat by England, in the two-test series against the New Zealanders. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Duo added 196 after New Zealand picked up four wickets in opening session KARACHI Captain Babar Azam struck an unbeaten 161 as Pakistan overcame a wobbly start to score 317-5 against New Zealand on the first day of the opening test at Karachi\u2019s National Stadium on Monday. Babar rode his luck in a 277-ball innings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":303668,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-303631","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n