PAK vs NZ: New Zealand bag big fish, Babar departs within 38 minutes on day 5

KARACHI: Ish Sodhi and Michael Bracewell bagged early wickets for New Zealand as Pakistan continued to suffer on day 5 of the first Test against New Zealand. 

Bracewell picked up nightwatchman Nauman Ali earlier, when he alongside Imam-ul-Haq added just five runs to the overnight score of 77-2. The left-arm spinner made four runs. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was trapped LBW off Sodhi who took his second wicket of the innings. 

Babar took review but it went in favour of New Zealand who reduced Pakistan to 100-4 within first 38 minutes of the match-deciding day.

Pakistan will need to bat-out the last day to avoid defeat in the first Test after New Zealand gained the upper hand Thursday through a masterly undefeated double-hundred by Kane Williamson in Karachi.

Pakistan have lost their last four Tests — including a first-ever 3-0 whitewash at the hands of England.

The home team´s task of salvaging a draw shouldn´t ordinarily be onerous on a National Stadium pitch that has not so far taken sharp turn, but their propensity for middle-order collapses recently has given New Zealand the sniff of victory.

Opener Abdullah Shafique was the first wicket to fall as he played an injudicious lofted shot off spinner Michael Bracewell, and was caught at mid-on for 17.

Then Shan Masood was adjudged leg before off Ish Sodhi for 10 before Haq and Nauman saw off the day.

Earlier, Williamson´s unbeaten double century enabled the visitors to declare their first innings on 612-9 — a good 174-run lead over Pakistan´s 438.

Williamson reached 200 with a single off spinner Abrar Ahmed, batting for ten hours and striking 21 boundaries and a six in an innings which saw him overturn two leg-before decisions on 13 and 116.

He also survived two stumpings off spinner Nauman on 15 and 21.

Resuming on 440-6, Williamson and Sodhi defied Pakistan´s bowling in the first session as the pair took the total to 595 before their seventh wicket stand was broken.

Sodhi was caught off Ahmed for 65 to better his previous best, also against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2018.