| Pakistan has recovered Mangalam

Karachi: Pakistan overcame a massive defeat in the first cricket test against New Zealand.

Captain Babar Azam (161 not out with one six and 15 fours off 277 balls) and former captain and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (86 off 153 balls) led the team forward. When play was stopped on the first day, Pakistan was 317 runs for five wickets. Agha Salman (three) joins Babar. Babar and Sarfraz put on a partnership of 196 runs. New Zealand took the lead in the opening session by taking four wickets. Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel started the wicket-hunting by dismissing Abdullah Shafiq (seven) and Shan Masood (three).

Both were stumped by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. This is the first time that the first two wickets in a Test have been through stumping. Opener Imam-ul-Haq (24 off 38 balls) was bowled by Michael Bracewell to Tim Southee. With that, Pakistan became 48 runs for three. The score crossed the hundred when Saud Shakeel (22) joined Babar. Saud was broken by Tim Southee to Henty Nicholls. Sarfraz was recalled to the team after former captain Shahid Afridi became the interim chairman of the selection committee. The fifth wicket partnership of Babar and Sarfraz crossed 50 runs in 75 balls, 100 runs in 153 balls and 150 runs in 262 balls. Sarfraz was bowled by Ajaz Bracewell.