New Zealand thrash Pakistan in first Test

Williamson’s half-century sees hosts claim eight-wicket victory in Christchurch

CHRISTCHURCH: A Kane Williamson half-century saw New Zealand snap a four-Test losing streak when they beat Pakistan by eight wickets Sunday in the first Test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

A low-scoring match was wrapped up inside eight sessions after the first day’s washout, with Williamson’s second innings 61 -- his 24th Test 50 -- the top score of the match.

Set 105 to win after Pakistan were all out for 171 in their second innings on the morning of the fourth day, Williamson lost his wicket with the scores level, leaving debutant Jeet Raval to seal victory with a boundary off Yasir Shah.

It was a much-needed confidence boost for the home side, coming off a 3-0 series whitewash in India and a comprehensive 204-run loss to South Africa.



New Zealand’s debutants shone. Opener Raval was unbeaten on 36 in the second innings after top-scoring in the first innings with 55 while Colin de Grandhomme gave a masterful display of medium-paced bowling, taking 6 for 41 in the first innings when Pakistan were skittled for 133.

After New Zealand replied with 200, Pakistan resumed their second innings on Sunday at 129-7 and added a further 42 to be all out for 171.

Sohail Khan posted a Test-best 40 as he and Asad Shafiq (17) showed gritty resistance at the start of the day. But their 53-run stand for the eighth wicket came to an end when Sohail half-heartedly pulled a short-pitched Southee delivery to de Grandhomme at backward square.

Neil Wagner, who returned figures of 3 for 34, claimed the wicket of Shafiq and Southee closed the innings when he had Rahat Ali caught for two.



Southee finished with 3 for 53 and Trent Boult, who leaked 19 runs in two overs on Sunday, took 3 for 37.

Pakistan removed opener Tom Latham early in New Zealand’s saunter to the finish when he fended at a sharply rising Mohammad Amir delivery and was caught by Shafiq in the gully for nine. It ended a disappointing Test for Latham who fell leg-before to Amir in the first innings for one.

Williamson and Raval were largely untroubled through to the end of the innings until New Zealand reached 104 to level the scores and Williamson swept Azhar Ali straight to Sami Aslam at fine leg.

The second and final Test in the series starts in Hamilton on Friday with New Zealand searching for their first series win over Pakistan in 31 years.