New Zealand v Pakistan: Tim Southee takes 300th Test wicket
- Published
Southee, who made his debut in 2008, is playing his 76th Test
First Test, Mount Maunganui (day four) |
|---|
New Zealand 431 (Williamson 129) & 180-5 (Blundell 64, Naseem 3-55) |
Pakistan 239 (Faheem 91, Jamieson 3-35) & 71-3 (Azhar 34*, Southee 2-15) |
Pakistan need further 302 runs to win |
Tim Southee took his 300th Test wicket as New Zealand closed in on victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Mount Maunganui.
Southee claimed 2-15 as Pakistan ended day four on 71-3 in pursuit of an unlikely 373 for victory.
Earlier, Tom Blundell made 64 and Tom Latham 53 as New Zealand declared on 180-5.
Southee, 32, is the third New Zealander to take 300 Test wickets, after Richard Hadlee and Daniel Vettori.
Pakistan, faced with batting for four sessions to save the game, slipped to 0-2 inside three overs.
Trent Boult found lift with his second delivery to have Abid Ali caught behind, before Shan Masood edged Southee tamely to Ross Taylor at first slip.
Southee's 300th wicket came when Haris Sohail chipped to cover.
Although Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam avoided any further mishaps for Pakistan before the close, New Zealand are firm favourites to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Black Caps fast bowler Neil Wagner limped off after bowling six overs in the second innings.
The left-armer has broken two toes - it was initially thought to be one - and struggled to bowl at his normal speed.
"He was in pain when he was warming up but he came back again and he bowled, which shows a lot of character," said Azhar.
"He was giving 100% and maybe more than that, so I have huge respect for him."
New Zealand pace bowler Kyle Jamieson was fined 25% of his match fee and given one demerit point for throwing the ball "at or near" batsman Faheem Ashraf "in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner" on day three.
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