Tim Southee has torn into Pakistan’s top order and his three wickets and then a double from Neil Wagner have given New Zealand a decided upper hand in the second cricket Test in Hamilton.
The 27-year-old, who also contributed a rapid 29 with the bat, snared the wickets of both openers and old hand Younis Khan as the hosts took a big step towards beating Pakistan in a series for the first time in more than three decades.
The tourists are 5-76 in their first innings at stumps on the second day at Seddon Park, trailing by 195 runs.
Babar Azam, 34, and Sarfraz Ahmed, nine, are the not out batsmen.
Pakistan started batting when they dismissed the Kiwis for 271 just after tea on Saturday.
Sami Aslam went in Southee’s third over for five, caught at second slip by Jeet Raval. Five balls later he had captain Azhar Ali caught behind for one.
In his fifth over the right-armer seamed one away from Younis to give wicket-keeper BJ Watling his second catch.
The 112-Test veteran had made just two and Pakistan were hobbled at 3-12.
They managed a mini-revival to get to 51 when Wagner struck with two wickets in two balls.
Asad Shafiq was on 23 when he got an inside edge to a wide ball from Wagner and lost his middle stump.
Next ball Mohammad Rizwan hooked a catch to Matt Henry at deep backward square, which left Sarfraz to survive the hat-trick ball.
Southee finished the day with figures of 3-26, Wagner 2-15, Henry 0-13 and Colin de Grandhomme 0-21.
The situation strengthens New Zealand’s chances of beating Pakistan in a series for the first time since 1985 and ending Pakistan’s seven-series unbeaten streak.
They lead the two-match series 1-0 after victory in Christchurch.
At the start of the day New Zealand resumed at 2-77 in the morning when just 21 overs were possible on a rain-hit day one.
The main contributors to the final total of 271 were opener Raval and Watling.
Raval, who scored 55 in his debut in Christchurch last week, matched that again. Watling was stranded on 49 not out when the last wicket fell.
Ross Taylor and de Grandhomme both contributed 37 and Southee clobbered five fours and a six in his quick-fire 29.
Sohail Khan finished with 4-99, Imran Khan 3-52, Mohammad Amir 2-59 and Wahab Riaz 1-57.
The Hamilton pitch was expected to offer swing and seam and that was reflected in the eight catches behind the wicket – four to keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
However, Pakistan opted to drop their spinner Yasir Shah in favour of four seamers – only skipper Azhar Ali sent down one over of spin during the innings.
