NZ v PAK, 2nd Test Day 4 Review: Ross Taylor century puts Kiwis on top

Pakistan now stands on the brink of a series loss at the hands of New Zealand following an impressive century from Ross Taylor. Prior to the start of the game, Ross Taylor had consulted a doctor regarding some terrible sighting issues. However, on the day there were seemingly no issues as the 32-year old wielded the bat and smashed a ton as the Kiwis are on the brink of completing yet another series win over Pakistan. Closer to the stumps call, Kane Williamson brought the curtains down on the innings meaning that the visitors would have to chase an improbable 368 runs for victory.

While Pakistan does indeed have a chance of saving the Test match on the final day’s play, Jeet Raval had batted the solitary delivery of the evening before the heavens opened up to destroy chances of amassing a few runs before stumps. However, the fact of the matter remained that Raval would not bat all that long when it came to the penultimate day’s play. While Raval has looked rather invincible with the bat, it seems as though Mohammad Amir was the only one to breach the defenses of the solid southpaw.

Raval had scored just the two runs but had taken 23 deliveries for the same. Thus, his solidity would certainly be intact and Amir has found his way past that solidity. What followed the dismissal was the stronghold partnership from Tom Latham and Kane Williamson. Tom Latham has been in rather an ordinary form of late with the bat was one to make amends following what was an arduous tour of India.

While Latham’s patience piled into the Pakistani pace battery, the fact of the matter remained that Kane Williamson at the other end was making the bat do all the talking. Although he was only hitting the boundaries to the fence at will, it was clear that he wanted to close out a win in the match as soon as he possibly could. It took yet another herculean effort from Imran Khan, Pakistan’s impressive pace to denude the New Zealand skipper of a well-deserved half-century.

Williamson impressed with 42 runs, something he has specialized for New Zealand in recent times. Moreover, this seems to be his role as well given the likes of Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls coming into bat sooner or later. Tom Latham then spurned into the role of the aggressor as he began to take the attack to the opposition. 80 runs came off the bat of Latham including 12 boundaries all over the park. It was elegant so say the least.

In spite of Wahab Riaz getting Latham out to what was the fifth-stump line, Pakistan was about to see a rejuvenated Ross Taylor. The 32-year old has the wrists that allow him to play freely on the leg-side, something that makes the short-pitched delivery rather useless against him. What’s more is that he was joined in by Colin de Grandhomme as the latter smashed the pacers to different parts of the park. Taylor would eventually bat his way to his 16th Test match century, one ton behind late skipper Martin Crowe.

A few knocks from Henry Nicholls (26) and BJ Watling (15) ensured that the lead crept past the 350-run mark. Thus, it meant that Pakistan would be chasing a score of 368. However, with all their wickets intact as the match moves into the final day sees Azhar Ali’s side with a possibility of saving the Test at Hamilton.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand, 1st innings: 271 all out

Pakistan, 1st innings: 216 all out

New Zealand, 2nd innings: 313/5 dec. (R Taylor 102*; Imran Khan 3/76)

Pakistan, 2nd innings: 1/0