On the third day of the first Test in Karachi, New Zealand responded forcefully to Pakistan with a stunning century from Tom Latham, while fellow opener Devon Conway almost missed a century of his own by eight runs.
With Pakistan’s first-innings total of 438, Latham’s 13th hundred, the most by a New Zealand opener, had the visitors at 245-2 at lunch.
The tourists are currently 193 runs behind.
After New Zealand started at 165 without a loss, Kane Williamson, who had disputed a leg-before decision against him, was unbeaten on 19, and Henry Nicholls was on 10.
Latham passed New Zealand opener John Wright’s 12 hundreds after sweeping spinner Abrar Ahmed for a single to reach three figures.
After Salman’s hundred in the first Test, New Zealand defeats Pakistan
Finally, after botching a reverse sweep and getting caught in the slip, he was declared out for 113.
Throughout his 288-minute innings, Latham hit ten boundaries.
The first-wicket partnership between Latham and Conway was 183, breaking the previous record of 181 achieved by Mark Richardson and Matthew Bell for New Zealand against Pakistan in Hamilton in 2001.
Conway scored his seventh Test half-century by hitting 14 boundaries before being caught leg before by spinner Nauman Ali for 92.
Both Babar Azam and Agha Salman, the team’s captain, were unable to participate in Wednesday’s first practise due to the viral virus that has struck the Pakistani camp.
