Unlikely heroes shine for Black Caps with stunning last-wicket stand

Two unlikely heroes with the bat then became more expected contributors with the ball as the Black Caps ended day two of the second test against Pakistan in a solid position.

Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel added 104 for the last wicket to save some day one blushes from the Black Caps, who had slumped from 234-1 to 309-6 by stumps, and then scrapped their way through to 345-9 early on day two.

51 from Tom Blundell had anchored partnerships of 30 with Ish Sodhi and 31 with Tim Southee, but when he was bowled the first ball after drinks on day two, New Zealand were down to their last pairing and well short of the 400 score opening batsman Devon Conway had labelled as respectable.

However, both Henry and Patel recorded their highest test scores, with Henry blasting 68 not out and Patel 35 to see the Black Caps through to 449 all out, with Pakistan reaching 154-3 by stumps in reply.

Henry was the early aggressor with some fine shots, while Patel joined in with some aggressive strokeplay of his own as Pakistan suffered the indignity of failing to take a wicket in the extra 30 minutes provided to extend a session when a team is nine wickets down.

After 24.5 overs, finally Patel departed, with the stand the second biggest of the innings as New Zealand had three century stands (first wicket, second wicket and 10th wicket) but in between no partnerships bigger than 31 in a parabola innings.

Patel and Henry then combined for the first wicket in Pakistan’s chase, as Abdullah Shafique tried to pull a Henry short ball but could only pick out Patel on the square leg boundary.

It was another curiously aggressive start from Pakistan, with Shan Masood hitting Patel for three fours in four balls before carving a fifth ball – a short and wide offering - straight to point to depart for 20 off 10 and reduce his team to 56-2.

A third wicket fell before the century, with super skipper Babar Azam being run out in a disastrous effort, with he and Imam-ul-Haq ending up at the same end while attempting a third run, with Imam seemingly at fault yet still remonstrating with his captain.

Babar had looked excellent in reaching 24, and New Zealand should have had a fourth wicket before stumps when Saud Shakeel edged Michael Bracewell behind on zero, but Blundell couldn’t corral it.

After 42 balls, Shakeel finally got off the mark and ended on 13 off 75 balls at stumps, with Imam on 74 – one player looking to make the most of a second chance, and one needing to cash in to avoid the wrath of his skipper.