Pakistan vs New Zealand 2nd Test: Latham anchors Black Caps with ton

Opener Tom Latham scored his second successive hundred to guide New Zealand to 243-3 on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai on Monday.

The 22-year-old followed his 103 in the first Test with another confident unbeaten 137 to help his team cash into the early advantage of winning the toss and opting to bat on a flat and grass-less Dubai International stadium pitch.

When bad lights forced closure three overs before schedule, Corey Anderson was seven not out on a day dominated by left-handed Latham.

Latham put on a resolute 77-run stand for the opening wicket with Brendon McCullum (43) and another 76 for the second wicket with Kane Williamson (32).

He then added 73 for the third wicket with Ross Taylor who was caught at short cover off leg-spinner Yasir Shah after scoring 23.

Latham, playing only his sixth Test, hit Zulfiqar Babar for a six to reach 90s and after hitting a boundary off the same bowler took a single to complete his century off 192 balls.

New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan praised Latham.

"Obviously an exciting day for us," said McMillan. "He (Latham) has come through in an excellent manner and backed up his first Test hundred to prove that he is an exciting talent."

"If we can continue to bat like this and put a 450-plus total then we can put pressure on Pakistan, like they did on us in Abu Dhabi."

Pakistan, missing a fifth bowler after Mohammad Hafeez was left out due to a hamstring injury, toiled hard and to add to their woes did not hold their chances.

Azhar Ali let off Latham in gully when the batsman was 103 and also grassed Taylor on 11 - both off Babar.

Latham, who impressed in the first Test, once again showed grit and application during his 375-minute stay, hitting 11 boundaries and a six.

Babar broke the stubborn second wicket stand when he turned one across Williamson's bat and hit the off stump.

Williamson hit only one boundary during his patient 86-ball knock.

In the first session Pakistan had to toil hard for wickets with Latham and McCullum batting confidently.

McCullum took the attack to the bowlers, hitting four boundaries and two sixes during his 69-minute stay at the crease.

He was dismissed just before lunch, pulling straight into the hands of deep square-leg where Shan Masood held a regulation catch.

Latham survived a leg-before review off Ehsan Adil when on 11, but thereafter batted with confidence.

New Zealand, trailing the three-match series 1-0, kept the same side which lost in Abu Dhabi last week.

Pakistan were forced to play with a new opening pair after Ahmed Shehzad was ruled out of the remaining two Tests with a skull fracture, and Hafeez suffered a hamstring injury.

They were replaced by Masood and Taufeeq Umar while paceman Imran Khan was rested and made way for Adil.

The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from November 26.

Scoreboard:

New Zealand 1st innings

T. Latham not out                  137
B. McCullum c Masood b Adil         43
K. Williamson b Babar               32
R. Taylor c Masood b Shah           23
C. Anderson not out                  7
Extras: (lb1)                        1
Total: (for three wkts; 87 overs)  243
Fall of wickets: 1-77 (McCullum), 2-153 (Williamson), 3-226 (Taylor)
Bowling: Rahat 20-2-46-0, Adil 17-4-47-1, Babar 25-4-92-1, Shah 22-3-51-1, Ali 3-1-6-0

Pakistan: Taufeeq Umar, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Misbah-ul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Ehsan Adil, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali.
Toss: New Zealand

Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS) and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI)
TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

CLOSE: New Zealand reached 243-3 in 87 at close on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium on Monday.

The day belonged to Tom Latham who remained unbeaten on 137, his second century in as many matches.

Pakistan have taken the second new ball with New Zealand 232-3 in 80 overs.

Shah breaks the partnership having Taylor snapped up at silly point less than half an hour before the close. NZ 226-3 in 77.3 overs.

Ross Taylor c Shan Masood b Yasir Shah 23 (104m 71b 3x4 0x6)

CENTURY: Latham completes his second consecutive ton with a single. NZ 186-2 in 62 overs.

Latham smashes a six and boundary off Babar while Taylor is dropped at silly point in an eventful over. NZ 183-2 in 61 overs.

Taylor survives a confident leg before appeal off Adil with Pakistan being unsuccessful with the decision review.

Taylor cracks two consecutive boundaries off Babar. NZ 169-2 in 59 overs.

TEA: New Zealand reached 160-2 in 56 overs at tea with Babar snapping up Williamson (32).

Latham is unbeaten on 84 having faced 176 balls and shared in a 76-run stand for the second wicket with Williamson.

Babar strikes shortly before tea castling Williamson. NZ 153-2 in 54.3 overs.

Kane Williamson b Zulfiqar Babar 32 (127m 86b 1x4 0x6)

New Zealand have added 49 runs in 14 overs in the hour after lunch. NZ 131-1 in 43 overs.

Latham compoletes his fourth half century in six matches. NZ 98-1 in 35 overs.

Latham hits the first boundary after lunch sweeping Babar to square leg. NZ 94-1 in 32 overs.

Rahat opens proceedings after the lunch interval. NZ 85-1 in 29 overs.

LUNCH: New Zealand reached 82-1 in 28 overs at lunch with McCullum having gone for 43 after a 77-run opening stand with Latham.

Opener Latham is unbeaten on 35 off 90 balls having hit four boundaries while Williamson is with him on four.

Williamson survives a scare when his edge off Shah falls just just of first slip.

Adil is rewarded as McCullum virtually throws his wicket away pulling a short ball to Masood in the deep. NZ 77-1 in 24.1 overs.

Brendon McCullum c Shan Masood b Ehsan Adil 43 (105m 69b 4x4 2x6)

Adil returns to the attack and McCullum pulls the final ball to square leg for a boundary. NZ 75-0 in 23 overs.

SIX! McCullum hits the second maximum smashing Babar over midwicket. NZ 65-0 in 20 overs.

New Zealand are off to a solid start with McCullum and Latham figuring in their sixth 50-run partnership. NZ 57-0 in 17 overs.

McCullum steps out and lofts Shah over his head for a boundary. NZ 44-0 in 14 overs.

DRINKS! New Zealand are 39-0 in 13 overs after the first hour of play.

All spin now as Yasir replaces Adil after a spell of 5-2-11-0. NZ 37-0 in 12 overs.

Latham punches Babar straight on the offside for a delightful boundary. NZ 36-0 in 11 overs.

McCullum drives Adil on the off with a crispy shot on for his second boundary. NZ 32-0 in 10 overs.

Spin introduced after eight overs as Babar comes into the attack replacing Rahat. NZ 28-0 in 9 overs.

REVIEW! Latham survives a confident appeal for leg before off Adil with a decision review suggesting it was would have just gone over the stumps. NZ 25-0 in 8 overs.

McCullum survives as he scoops Adil just short of Babar at mid-on.

SIX! McCullum launches Rahat into orbit sending the ball sailing into the empty stands at midwicket for the first six of the match. NZ 24-0 in 7 overs.

Adil bowls another maiden over as New Zealand make a cautious start. NZ 17-0 in 6 overs.

BOUNDARY! McCullum gets going with a classic straight on drive to the fence off Adil. NZ 14-0 in 4 overs.

BOUNDARY! Latham hits the first boundary of the match clipping Rahat to square leg.

Adil starts with a maiden. NZ 2-0 in 2 overs.

Rahat Ali opens the attack for Pakistan while Latham and McCullum are in the middle.

New Zealand have won the toss and will bat first in the second Test against Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium on Monday.

Pakistan have made two enforced changes with with Taufeeq Umar and Shan Masood coming in for Hafeez and Shehzad.

Imran Khan has been rested and Ehsan Adil replaces him.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has upstaged his rival Misbah-ul Haq by winning the crucial toss calling right this time.

"It will be a pretty important toss, from what happened in the last game," said McCullum before the match.

Teams:

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

Pakistan: Shan Masood, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Ehsan Adil, Rahat Ali

Preview

Pakistan will continue to attack a hapless New Zealand with spin as they eye a series win in the second Test starting in Dubai from Monday.

Pakistan inflicted a big 248-run defeat on the Kiwis in the first Test in Abu Dhabi for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar and leggie Yasir Shah posing serious problems.

Besides a spin web, paceman Rahat Ali, man-of-the-match for his six wickets in the game, reverse swung the ball to pile further problems on New Zealand batting, folded for 262 and 231 on a flat Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

There seems no change in fortune for the tourists as the Dubai International stadium pitch promises more help for spin and in turn multiplies problems for the struggling New Zealand batsmen.

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