New Zealand reach 369-8 in second Test

18 Nov, 2014

DUBAI: New Zealand battled hard on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai on Tuesday reaching 369-8 at tea.

Mark Craig (43) and BJ Watling (39) added an invaluable 68 for the seveth wicket to help New Zealand revive from a faltering 295-6. At the interval, Ish Sodhi was 12 not out and Tim Southee was batting on nine.

Watling defied the Pakistan bowling during his two-hour vigil, hitting three boundaries before he gave a catch off part-timer Azhar Ali.

Craig, who hit five boundaries, was trapped leg-before by Zulfiqar Babar who had figures of 2-126.

Craig benefitted from a dropped catch on nine when Rahat Ali failed to take a simple catch at mid-on off leg-spinner Yasrir Shah.

Earlier, resuming on a strong 243-3 New Zealand lost both their overnight batsmen Corey Anderson and Tom Latham in the space of two runs.

Seamer Ehsan Adil (2-69) had Anderson caught in the covers before fellow new-ball partner Rahat had Latham caught behind. Latham, who scored 103 in New Zealand's 248-run defeat in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, fell in the next over as he edged a ball from Rahat to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Latham failed to add to his overnight score of 137. He batted for 394 minutes and hit 11 fours and a six.

Jimmy Neesham added 33 for the sixth wicket with Watling before he miscued a drive off Shah and was caught at short mid-wicket by Misbah-ul Haq for 17.

Shah also has 2-89 while Rahat has figures of 1-64.

Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2014

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