Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq missed out on his second successive century as New Zealand pinned down Pakistan’s progress to 224-4 on the third day of the second test on Wednesday.
Imam followed his 96 in the drawn first test last week with a knock of 83 runs before he was caught behind after captain Tim Southee successfully overturned an on-field not out decision through television referral in the only wicket to fall in the first session.
Saud Shakeel, who took 42 balls to get his first run on Day 2, survived an lbw referral in the last over before lunch against Matt Henry and moved to a sedate 43 off 158 balls while Sarfaraz Ahmed was unbeaten on 27 at the break.
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Pakistan still trails by 225 runs after New Zealand’s last-wicket pair of Henry and Ajaz Patel had lifted the total to 449 with a century stand.
Fast bowlers Southee (1-42) and Henry (1-46) tied down Pakistan with their miserly opening spells on Day 3 as they conceded just 15 runs off their 11 overs.
Resuming on 154-3, Imam started off confidently with a boundary off Henry’s first ball of the day through point before Southee got the breakthrough in his second over at the stroke of the hour.
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Imam, who hit 10 fours and a six, batted for just over four hours but tried to play away from his body and the replays suggested the ball had taken the toe-end of his bat to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
Imam had revived Pakistan innings with an 83-run stand with Shakeel after captain Babar Azam was run out in a bizarre mix-up with him and had Pakistan in trouble at 99-3 late on Day 2.