Pakistan and New Zealand face off at the National Stadium in Karachi. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. However, after a bad start by the openers, the Babar Azam-led side pulled off a great comeback with the help of their middle-order batters. Babar himself lead from the front and smashed a brilliant ton, he scored 161 runs. Agha Salman was the other centurion for the team as the team ended up on 438.
New Zealand skipper and fast bowler Tim Southee was the highest wicket-taker for the team as he clinched 3 wickets. The Kiwi’s spinning department also did a really great job as Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi and Michael Bracewell were able to pick 2 wickets each for the team.
New Zealand are ahead with the lead
In response, the Kiwi openers scored merrily and were not troubled for the slightest. On Day 3, Devon Conway could not convert his fifty into a hundred but Tom Latham did and he fell soon after scoring 113 runs which included 10 fours. Coming in at no.3 New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson had a couple of stumping opportunities which Sarfaraz didn't take and the former skipper made them pay by notching up his 25th Test ton.
Williamson held one end up and allowed the other batters to bat freely, adding crucial partnerships with Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell. Mitchell played a quickfire inning of 42 runs off just 47 balls including 7 fours and 1 six, however, he couldn’t complete the half century. Bracewell too missed his half-century by just 3 runs as he got dismissed by Mohammad Wasim Jr with an unplayable delivery.
Williamson is on the crease on the score of 105 runs, he might look to get the acceleration on Day 4 to get a huge lead. He will get along with the tail which might turn into a deciding factor. New Zealand have already taken the lead but they are still not out of the woods as they will be batting last on this surface. Pakistan will look to pick the last four wickets quickly tomorrow so they can put New Zealand under pressure.
Here's how fans reacted:
#NZvsPAK #pakvsnz #Pakistan #😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/W7QxWselAY
— Rahul Chouhan (@Rahulldchouhan) December 28, 2022
The 3rd day of the match was very boring 🥺 #pakvsNz
— shaheera (@Tahir20S) December 28, 2022
Kane Williamson to PCT bowlers😅#PAKvsNZ #NZvPAK#KaneWilliamson #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/EleE2OXlhI
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) December 28, 2022
Wahan century Kane Williamson ne maari hai, pressure Kohli par aagya 👀 #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/gUa4eG9mpc
— Sudhanshu Ranjan Singh (@memegineers_) December 28, 2022
Itni fazool Wicket bana ka bowler ko badnam kar raha #PakvsNZ
— kami vines (@kamivines6) December 28, 2022
Yes definitely. Rizwan is better wicket keeper than sarfaraz
— CricTalk With Azeem (@IamAzeemRaheem) December 28, 2022
Sarfaraz should consider the strategy of stumping the opposition #PakvNZ pic.twitter.com/7xF7BihxCa
— Dennis Crap Pitch (@DennisCricket_) December 28, 2022
Batter than zimbabr
— ICT &LUNT (@annu_siyol) December 28, 2022
Hyping runs on a pitch which is flatter than Sonam Kapoor 👎
— # (@HessonHive) December 28, 2022