Devon Conway’s return to the top of the league has given the Black Caps an excellent response in the first Test against Pakistan in Karachi.
At their final Test of 2022, the Black Caps had the worst opening partnership average of Test nations this year, with Tom Latham and Will Young averaging just 26.9 runs per opening stand.
But with New Zealand opting to field only five Specialist batsmen in this Test, Conway was elevated back to the top in place of Young after a stint in the middle order, and the rewards were immediate.
After Pakistan had been dismissed for 438 in their first innings, New Zealand reached 165-0 without fuss at the end of day two, coming back into the game on a pitch that yielded little and against a bowling charge that yielded even less.
It was a day that started well and ended well, with Pakistan starting 317-5 with captain Babar Azam undefeated on 161. Four balls later he was back in the pavilion, nibbling a ball outside from Tim Southee and sliding in behind him . wicket-keeper Tom Blundell.
Fellow overnight batsman Agha Salman was undeterred, however, and made a fine first century when he made a remarkable 100 runs from 121 on day two.
That was in part thanks to a torturously valuable seven off 75 balls from Nauman Ali that was ended by a short ball from Neil Wagner plucked out of the air by Michael Bracewell’s left hand, but Salman also managed partnerships of 39 to add. with Mir Hamza (one) and 24 with Abrar Ahmed (six) for the last two wickets as New Zealand were frustrated.
In the end Southee Salman trapped lbw for 103 as he attempted an agricultural haul finishing 3-69 to go to 350 test wickets while Ish Sodhi picked up the other two scalps to fall in his return to test cricket.
That handed the reins over to Latham and Conway, who played his first test in the subcontinent, and they hardly looked concerned.
Few loose shots were seen as they looked comfortable against Pakistan’s spin duo of Ali and Ahmed, while Pakistan lack their top three squads, leaving their pace combination of Hamza and Mohammad Wasim – who are both in their second test – much less. anxious.
The biggest chance came with Conway on 57 when he made a lead over Ali, but the Pakistani players didn’t notice, and what would have been a successful assessment went begging.
Conway finished the day on 82 and Latham on 78, and with the field offering some twist but not much else, the stage is set for New Zealand to put up a strong score.
Whether their bowlers can find enough life in the third innings to produce a result is much more doubtful.