2nd Test, Day 1: Pakistan vs New Zealand - As it happened...

Dubai: Tom Latham's consecutive Test ton put the Kiwis in a comfortable position on Day 1 of the second Test match against Pakistan.

OVER 87 // RUNS 243// WICKETS 3

Stumps: Despite losing those three wickets, it has to be New Zealand's day! Latham's consecutive Test hundred has made sure that they reach a convincing position. There might be not many runs on the board, but considering the form of the Pakistani spinners, it has been a satisfactory day for the Kiwis. The entire team would be extremely proud of Latham's ton, though his job isn't done yet and he would be expected to do the most of the scoring even on the second day. This partnership is now worth 17 runs and like they have done right throughout this innings, the Kiwis need another big partnership to get into a commanding position.

Tom Lotham 137* (258) Corey Anderson 7* (38b)

OVER 80 // RUNS 232 // WICKETS 3

Taylor's resilience was finally ended by Yasir Shah as the right-hander pushed a delivery towards silly point where Shah Masood held on to it. The wicket ended the 71-run stand for the third wicket which had begun to frustrate Pakistan. It was the third big partnership of the Kiwi innings and if they keep going in this fashion, they can for sure put Pakistan under some sort of pressure with a big total. Corey Anderson is the new man in. Latham is batting on 130.

OVER 70 // RUNS 206 // WICKETS 2

Latham and Taylor are in the process of stitching yet another crucial partnership for the Kiwis. After two good partnerships for the first wicket and the second wicket respectively, 53 runs have been added by these two for the third wicket. Latham, once again the hero of the innings, is batting on 127 while veteran Taylor is batting on 14. Taylor needs to hit a big knock for his side, not only to get his own momentum going, but also to show Pakistan, that the Kiwis are good enough to handle their spin attack.

OVER 62 // RUNS 186 // WICKETS 2

Babar continues and Latham punishes him straight away with a big six after dancing down the track. He then sweeps another delivery with the turn by taking it on the full and beats deep backward square leg for four. After that Taylor edges a catch to silly point which Azhar Ali drops. That sums up Babar's over. Latham then gets two runs by a flick to get to 99 and in the same over, he gets another single through mid-wicket to bring up his hundred. Well played Latham!

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OVER 60 // RUNS 170 // WICKETS 2

Babar starts with the proceedings after tea and gives away just one run. Adil continues and keeps his bowling around the off stump region and Latham looks in no hurry and is happy to play out a maiden. Taylor meanwhile, hits two crisp boundaries off Babar both through the cover region. Next over Adil traps Taylor. It was a back of length delivery which came in, Taylor moved across to cut it but replays confirm that he was struck well outside off and it was missing the stumps too. Misbah had reviewed it and that goes wasted as it struck him well outside off.

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OVER 56 // RUNS 160 // WICKETS 2

One run comes from the over and NZ enter tea with the score reading 160/2. So far they nwillbe happy with having lost just two wickets. Both wickets have fallen just before lunch and tea respectively.

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OVER 55 // RUNS 159 // WICKETS 2

Williamson falls prey to Babar after a decent 32. The Pakistani bowlers aren't giving much away and have kept it tight. Latham meanwhile has progressed further with having already entered the 80's. He looks well settled for a ton here. 2nd wicket partnership read 76 runs for NZ. Taylor has come in to bat and he will hope to get over the ghosts of spin bowling. Latham meanwhile gets a boundary of Babar. 

KS Williamson b Zulfiqar Babar 32

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OVER 45 // RUNS 137 // WICKETS 1

No success so far for the Pakistani bowlers after lunch. Latham is continuing his play with some good shots and eye catching application. Williamson meanwhile, has settled in. This shows how good this track is for batting. 32 runs have come from the last ten overs. 

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OVER 36 // RUNS 98 // WICKETS 1

Pakistan have started with Rahat Ali and Babar after lunch. The duo have kept it tight as Williamson and Latham seeing off the bowling so far. Latham has looked in control so far and with a flick off Rahat, has brought up his fifty. 12 runs have been added to the score since lunch so far.

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Lunch time here at Dubai and Pakistan will search for inroads after the first session. Williamson and Latham need to carry on and build a good partnership.

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OVER 28 // RUNS 82 // WICKETS 1

New Zealand will be feeling the loss of McCullum as a big blow. Adil bowls a maiden before Yasir gives away two singles before lunch as the visitors go into the break with the score reading 82/1. 

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OVER 26 // RUNS 80 // WICKETS 1

McCullum hits a boundary off Yasir in the 23rd over after going to his back foot and pulling it through square-leg. Just when everything was going well for the Kiwis, Brendan McCullum threw his wicket away. Big blow this just before lunch. Adil with the wicket there. A short delivery on the stumps, and McCullum pulled it with power but it went straight to Shan Masood at deep midwicket. Williamson comes in and Yasir nearly gets him in the next over with a ball just falling short before slip fielder Younis Khan.

BB McCullum c Shan Masood b Ehsan Adil 43 (69b)

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OVER 22 // RUNS 70 // WICKETS 0

Yasir Shah gives away a solitary run and there was close appeal for leg before against Latham who missed an attempted sweep shot. The ball was missing off stump. Babar then gives away three runs with the visitors getting the singles and twos regularly. Another two runs come from the 22nd over with Shah conceding two singles.

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OVER 19 // RUNS 63 // WICKETS 0

Spinners Babar and Shah have been bowling together, with Misbah realising the threat they can offer. Meanwhile, both McCullum and Latham are getting the odd boundaries and the former danced down the track in the 19th over off Babar and hit a maximum. The run-rate for New Zealand so far has been healthy with over 3 runs per over. It has been a devent opening stand for the visitors so far. 

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OVER 12 // RUNS 37 // WICKETS 0

Spin is introduced through Zulfiqar Babar who gives away three runs from his first ovcr. Adil continues and is bowling a tight line outside middle and off line channel. McCullum gets into the act in the 4th ball and plays an amazing straight drive for a boundary. Babar gets driven through mid-off for a boundary by Latham. Then he puts in some slow decent deliveries which Latham sees out with ease.

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OVER 8 // RUNS 25 // WICKETS 0

Rahat Ali continues and bowls five straight dots before Latham finds a gap through the leg side and gets three runs. Adil then gets a maiden with bowling mainly in the off-stump channel. In the seventh over Ali gets punished for a big six by McCullum who pulls a delivery pitched on leg stump. Adil then has an over that produces two close chances. First McCullum, who finds an edge with the ball just falling short of mid-on. Latham then survives a close LBW appeal. Field umpire Paul Reiffel isn't interested before Misbah-ul Haq reviews the decision but it was an umpire's call and the decision stayed.

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OVER 4 // RUNS 14 // WICKETS 0

Rahat Ali opens the bowling for Pakistan with Latham and skipper Brendan McCullum to bat for New Zealand. Good start to the over as Latham is watchful and he tucks away the final ball towards fine leg and opens the scoring. Ehsan Adil introduced and he bowls a decent line outside the off stump and gives a maiden. Ali continues and well Latham gets a four after the former strays down his pads. Two more runs come in the over. Adil to McCullum and he pushes the ball in the gap through cover for two. Another four comes with McCullum driving a ball straight through the ground. Good start for the Kiwis.

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Opener Mohammad Hafeez was ruled out due to hamstring injury as New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and opted to bat in the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai on Monday.

Hafeez, who scored an unbeaten 101 in Pakistan`s 248-run win in the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week, joined fellow opener Ahmed Shehzad on the injury list.

Shehzad was hit by a Corey Anderson bouncer in the first Test and was ruled out of the remaining two matches.

Paceman Imran Khan was rested as third change in the side with openers Taufeeq Umar and Shan Masood, and paceman Ehsan Adil brought in.

The 21-year-old Adil played his only Test in South Africa last year. 

Pakistan are on a three match winning streak and they will hope to get the second Test against the Kiwis off to a good start.

New Zealand remained unchanged from the first Test.

Teams (from):

Pakistan: Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Taufeeq Umar, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah. 

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt), Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, BJ Watling, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi.

Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS) and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI)

TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)