Daily Times

Ross Taylor and Tom Latham scored 102 not out and 80 respectively on the fourth day of the second Test to set a mammoth 369 target for the Azhar Ali-led Pakistan on Monday.

After left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir provided Pakistan an early breakthrough in the shape of Jeet Rawal’s wicket, Latham and the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson set up a 97-run partnership to push the visitors on the backfoot.

After handing out an easy catch to Sami Aslam in the slip cordon during the first innings, Latham registered his 11^th half-century before the Lunch to end his dry patch. The Kiwi opener went on to score 80 out of 150 balls before he fell to Wahab Riaz when he edged a bouncer into Sarfraz Ahmed’s hands.

Coming into bat when New Zealand were two down for 107, Taylor continued the Kiwi dominance with blistering cut shots. The veteran batsman hit 16 fours during his unbeaten 134-ball innings.

Right-arm medium-pacer Imran Khan took three wickets for 76 in his 20.3 overs. His immaculate line and length removed Williamson, Henry Nicholls, and the star of the first Test Collin de Grandhomme.

For the fourth consecutive time, right-arm pace bowler Sohail Khan failed to get a wicket in the second innings of a Test match.

A late declaration saw Pakistan openers bat for only three overs with Aslam scoring one run.

New Zealand, 1-0 up in the series, look to secure their second-ever series victory against Pakistan on the home soil. They last won a home Test series against Pakistan in 1985.