Sarfaraz, Imam keep New Zealand at bay after early setbacks
The match is being played in Karachi
Pakistan have reached 181-4, with a lead of seven runs, at lunch on day five of the first Test against New Zealand in Karachi.
Pakistan lost two early wickets in the morning session but an unbeaten 81-run partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed helped them avoid complete capitulation.
Imam was not out on 81, meanwhile Sarfaraz had scored 49 at the lunch interval.
Nauman, who scored four runs, was sent back to the hut after he looked to defend a ball from Bracewell on the front foot but was beaten on the inside edge and was struck low on the front pad.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Babar Azam was dismissed by a googly from Ish Sodhi. The ball pitched outside off, spun and kept a touch low. The Pakistan captain went for the pull but missed and was hit in front of middle. The right-hander only managed to score 14 runs.
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.
Yesterday, 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.
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