New Zealand's Kane Williamson (L) plays a shot during the fourth day of the first Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on 29 December, 2022
New Zealand's Kane Williamson (L) plays a shot during the fourth day of the first Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on 29 December, 2022
Cricket

New Zealand building healthy lead against Pakistan

AFPKarachi, Pakistan

Kane Williamson and Ish Sodhi defied Pakistan bowlers Thursday as New Zealand reached 519-6 at lunch on the fourth day of the first Test in Karachi.

The home team's efforts for early wickets went in vain as Williamson took his overnight score of 105 to 137, and Sodhi was able company on 41.

Resuming on 440-6, New Zealand now lead by 81 runs and are in a good position to take the first Test of the two-match series.

Pakistan took the third new ball with the total on 493-6, but neither the fast bowlers nor the spin duo of Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed could break the partnership, which has so far yielded 78 runs.

Williamson reversed a leg-before decision against him from Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar on 116 after television replays showed Nauman's delivery pitched outside the leg stump.

New Zealand's Kane Williamson plays a shot during the third day of the first Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National stadium in Karachi on 28 December, 2022

He has so far hit 12 boundaries in his 25th Test century, anchoring the innings after openers Tom Latham (113) and Devon Conway (92) got big scores on Wednesday.

Ahmed is Pakistan's best bowler with 3-172, while Nauman has 2-154.

New Zealand are playing their first Test series in Pakistan for 20 years.

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