New Zealand tail wags; Pakistan lose both openers late on day two

New Zealand followed up their first-innings score of 403 by picking up two late wickets, leaving Pakistan on 34-2 at the end of day two of the second Test.

Openers Shan Masood and Taufeeq Umar both failed to make it through a tricky 19-over period, though in-form duo Azhar Ali (four not out) and Younis Khan, who was unbeaten on one, made sure there were no further losses for Pakistan before the close.

Despite Tom Latham failing to add to his overnight total of 137, the Black Caps had managed to post a sizable total, one that is even more impressive considering they made 493 combined in losing the first match of the series.

They were at one stage reduced to 278-6 on Tuesday, but some strong lower-order resistance frustrated Pakistan before Zulfiqar Babar claimed the final three wickets to finish with 4-137.

New Zealand had made the worst possible start when Corey Anderson fell in the second over of the morning session, seamer Ehsan Adil (2-69) getting him caught in the covers for nine.

Latham soon joined his team-mate back in the pavilion, the opener - who had also scored a century in the first Test - departing in the next over as he edged a ball from Rahat Ali through to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Miscued drive

Jimmy Neesham added 33 for the sixth wicket with BJ Watling but when he miscued a drive off Yasir Shah and was caught at short mid-wicket by Misbah-ul Haq for 17, the Kiwis were in danger of wasting the foundations they had laid during their steady, if unspectacular, progress with the bat on day one.

However, Watling – who battled for over two hours to make 39 – and Mark Craig (43) added an invaluable 68 for the seventh wicket to extend the innings up to, and beyond, the lunch break.

Craig hit five boundaries but was denied a second Test half-century when he was trapped lbw by Babar, leaving the score at 348-8.

The same bowler also removed Tim Southee for 17 and then wrapped up the innings by having last-man Trent Boult caught for two by Rahat. Ishant Sodhi was left unbeaten on 32 not out from 63 balls, though his impact for the day didn't finish there.

The leg-spinner picked up the wicket of Masood, bowling the opening batsman for 13 with a delivery that gripped off the surface and turned through between bat and pad onto middle stump.

Craig then completed a good day for both him and his team when he sent back Taufeeq. The left-hander appeared to get an edge through to Watling but was given out stumped after the wicket-keeper had also whipped off the bails.