PAK vs NZ: Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel lead New Zealand's charge in Karachi

New Zealand bowlers Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel dominated Day 2 of the ongoing second Test match against Pakistan at National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi. Pakistan managed to bowl out the visitors on 449 and then scored 154/3 by stumps. 

After an even battle on Day 1, New Zealand resumed their innings from 309/6 with Tom Blundell and Ish Sodhi in the middle. The young Naseem Shah bowled Sodhi in the day's second over to give his team a great start. But it was youngster Abrar Ahmed who bowled a defining spell on Day 2. 

He bowled Blundell and then took Tim Southee's wicket in quick succession. Blundell scored 51 runs off 108 balls while Southee contributed with 10 runs. But Pakistani bowlers struggled for the last wicket as Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel pulled off a record 104-run partnership for the 10th wicket. Abrar removed Ajaz in the second session to end the frustration for the bowlers.

Ajaz scored 35 runs off 78 balls and Henry remained unbeaten at 68 runs off just 81 balls with the help of eight fours and two sixes. For Pakistan, Abrar continued his red-hot form with four wickets, while Naseem and Agha Salman grabbed three wickets each.

After his heroics with the bat, Henry shone with a ball as he gave New Zealand the first success in form of Abdullah Shafique's wicket in the eighth over. Ajaz then dismissed Shan Masood wicket in the 11th over to give Kiwis early control of the match.

But the in-form captain Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq then pulled off a 43-run partnership for the third wicket to keep Pakistan alive in the match. Babar looked confident from the beginning but was unfortunate to get run out for 24.

Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel avoided further wickets with an unbeaten 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Imam scored 74* off 125 balls while Shakeel remained unbeaten at 13 off 75, to help Pakistan score 154/3 in 47 overs, trailing by 295 runs.

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Here is how Twitter reacted to Day 2's play of the 2nd PAK vs NZ Test match:

A brilliant final stand by Matt Henry (68*) & Ajaz Patel (35) adding 104 from 149 balls to boost the total to 449 all-out after lunch on day two.
Both players notching Test PB's en-route to recording the highest 10th-wicket partnership by a visiting pair to Pakistan #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/IbPfMRmdRt

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 3, 2023

Ajaz patel and matt henry at the end of day 2🤣 pic.twitter.com/bITdWAhEQa

— DaNish🥂 (@_danishlone) January 3, 2023

Highest 10th wicket partnership in Tests in Karachi:

104 - Matt Henry & Ajaz Patel vs Pakistan in 2023
63 - Frank Cameron & Bevan Congdon vs Pakistan in 1965
57* - Inzamam-ul-Haq & Mushtaq Ahmed vs Australia in 1994

— Talk Cricket With Aarav Gupta (@CricketAarav) January 3, 2023

Technically you could say Babar was ball watching. #PakvsNZ https://t.co/CCZGYMbXiF

— Andrew McLean (@McleanOnCricket) January 3, 2023

Most times run outs since Babar Azam's debut across formats:
15 - Babar Azam
14 - Muhammad Nabi
13 - Joe Root

Now imagine his batting stats if he was not run out that much times but thanks to Imam, Rizwan and 99 others.#PakvsNZ #NZvPAK #BabarAzam

— Asad Khan Waiz Awan 🇵🇰❤️ (@Akwaofficial444) January 3, 2023

New Year, Old Pakistan #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/OqomXrJMpL

— Sagar Sureliya (@sagar_sureliya) January 3, 2023

Abrar Ahmed finally ends the 10th-wicket stand.

New Zealand are all out for 449 🏏#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/esH89R4AOd

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 3, 2023

After a long time, Babar Azam's captaincy, field placing and rotation of his bowlers after the tea break looked extremely impressive. He's looking more confident and that showed with the way he took the review too. Ma Shaa Allah 💚👏 #PAKvNZ

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 2, 2023