Azam struck spinner Michael Bracewell for a six in opposition to mid-wicket to finish his 9th Test century. It is his fourth Test hundred in 2022.
Pakistan had been in a place of trouble at the opening day and had been suffering on 115/4 at lunch, prior to Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed added an unbroken hundred-run partnership for the 5th wicket to restore the hosts’ innings in opposition to the Kiwis.
BOOM đŸ’¥Century reached in taste!#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai https://t.co/krAqHkuJz0
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Azam has already scored greater than 1000 Test runs this yr, which integrated 4 loads and 7 fifties. This crimson patch additionally integrated his profession absolute best 196 in opposition to Australia in Karachi previous this yr in March. Apart from the 2 heaps in Karachi, Azam has a 119 in opposition to Sri Lanka in Galle and 136 in opposition to England in Rawalpindi in 2022, making it the most productive yr in his Test profession.
New Zealand can be ruing letting Azam off the hook when he used to be on simply 12, after Daryl Mitchell spilled a law catch at slip off Bracewell. The vacationers additionally did not run out Azam on 54 when Devon Conway ignored the stumps with the Pakistan skipper neatly wanting his crease.
New Zealand’s spinners ruled the primary consultation, with Bracewell pushing aside Shan Masood for 3 and Imam-ul-Haq for twenty-four, whilst Patel took the early wicket of Abdullah Shafique for seven.
In the penultimate over prior to lunch, speedy bowler Tim Southee pushed aside Saud Shakeel for 22 to finish a a success consultation for the vacationers, gambling their first Test sequence in Pakistan since 2002.
New Zealand’s choice to play with 3 spinners seemed justified, because the National Stadium pitch took flip proper from the beginning. Patel got here directly to bowl in simply the fourth over of the innings. He became his 3rd ball throughout a forward-playing Shafique, and had him stumped through wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Bracewell then had Masood stumped in his 2d over prior to Haq miscued a pressure off him and used to be stuck at mid-off.
This is the primary time in Test cricket historical past that the primary two dismissals in an innings had been each stumped.
Pakistan, who suffered their first-ever 0-3 house whitewash to England final week, recalled Sarfaraz, Mir Hamza and Haq to the facet.
(With inputs from businesses)