Azhar, Rizwan and Faheem guide Pakistan to 297-run first innings total

Christchurch: Azhar Ali’s 93, Mohammad Rizwan’s 61 and Faheem Ashraf’s 48 helped Pakistan post 297 all out in their first innings on the opening day of the second Test of the two-match ICC World Test Championship series being played at the Hagley Oval Christchurch on Sunday.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to field first. Pakistan lost opener Shan Masood (0) in the third over of the day to Tim Southee.

Abid Ali 25 (53 balls, three fours) added 62 runs for the second-wicket with Azhar before falling to Kyle Jamieson. The tourists then lost two more wickets quickly as Haris Sohail (1) and first Test centurion Fawad Alam (2) fell shortly before the lunch interval; Pakistan took lunch at 88 for four.

The fifth-wicket partnership between Azhar and captain Mohammad Rizwan blossomed post lunch, the two combined to add 88 runs in their alliance with Rizwan posting his sixth Test half-century in his 11^th match. This was his fifth consecutive fifty plus score in the longest format.

Rizwan was dismissed by Jamieson for 61 off 71 balls (11 fours). Azhar fell seven runs short of his 18^th Test century when fast bowler Matt Henry had him caught in the slips. Azhar’s hit a total of 12 fours in his 172-ball stay at the wicket.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf who scored 90 in the first innings of the first Test made a crucial 48-run contribution before becoming Jamieson’s fifth-wicket of the day. Faheem scored his runs off 88 balls and struck eight fours.

Debutant Zafar Gohar also made an important lower-order contribution, the left-hander scored 34 off 62 balls before falling to Southee in the first over with the second new ball. Four balls later Shaheen Shah Afridi (4) was dismissed by Trent Boult who then accounted for Naseem Shah who scored a breezy 12 off 9 balls as Pakistan were bowled out in the 84^th over for 297.

Jamieson took five wickets for 69, Southee and Boult took two wickets each. New Zealand will start their first innings tomorrow (Monday).

 Scores in brief (close of play day one):

Pakistan 297 all out, 83.5 overs (Azhar Ali 93, Mohammad Rizwan 61, Faheem Ashraf 48; Kyle Jamieson 5-69, Tim Southee 2-61, Trent Boult 2-82)