Opener Tom Latham struck his second consecutive century to keep New Zealand on course for a big first-innings total on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan yesterday.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, the visitors, trailing 1-0 in the three-Test series, reached 243-3 at the close.
Latham, who scored a century in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, remained unbeaten on 137, with Corey Anderson on 7.
Photo: AFP
The 22-year-old Latham, playing his sixth Test match, displayed good temperament and solid technique against both the fast bowlers and the spinners, and he reached his century with a single off paceman Ehsan Adil.
The left-handed batsman survived a close leg before wicket appeal against Adil on 11 and edged Rahat Ali on 71, but the ball went between the wicketkeeper and first slip.
Azhar Ali dropped Latham at gully after the batsman had reached his century and failed to latch on to a sharp chance at silly-point off Ross Taylor.
Photo: AFP
Latham added 77 for the opening wicket with Brendon McCullum, before the New Zealand captain succumbed to a rush of blood to be dismissed on 43.
Adil, who replaced paceman Imran Khan in Pakistan’s starting lineup, broke the gritty opening stand 15 minutes before lunch.
McCullum pulled Adil, playing his second Test, straight to Shan Masood, who was placed at square-leg precisely for that purpose.
Latham added 76 for the second wicket with Kane Williamson, who fell an over before tea, bowled by Zulfiqar Babar for 32.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Taylor (23) in the final session, but not before he had added 73 for the third wicket with Latham.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq introduced spin as early as the ninth over after his pace bowlers failed to make early inroads.
Pakistan, who won the first Test by 248 runs, went in with a new left-handed opening pair after Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez failed to recover from injuries.
Masood and Taufeeq Umar will open the batting for the hosts.
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
US national team star Folarin Balogun was among the scorers as AS Monaco on Friday won 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain, dealing a blow to the side from the French capital before they face Chelsea in a crunch UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie. Maghnes Akliouche gave Monaco a first-half lead at the Parc des Princes, and Aleksandr Golovin doubled their advantage early in the second half of the French Ligue 1 clash. Bradley Barcola pulled one back for the reigning European champions, but Balogun struck shortly after with a fifth goal in his last five games as Monaco claimed a precious
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
Teenage star Lamine Yamal’s superbly-taken goal on Saturday earned Barcelona a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in Spanish La Liga. The champions restored their four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who had on Friday temporarily closed the gap by beating Celta Vigo. Atletico Madrid tightened their grip on third with an entertaining 3-2 win over Real Sociedad. Yamal, 18, curled into the top corner after 68 minutes to split the sides at Athletic’s San Mames stadium. “We’re already seeing what Lamine can do — he puts it right in the top corner, and there’s nothing the keeper can do,” Barca
RSS