PAK vs NZ: New Zealand gains a commanding lead over Pakistan in the opening test

• Pakistan makes fruitless attempts to get early wickets.
• Ish Sodhi and Kane Williamson challenge Pakistani bowlers.
• New Zealand currently holds an 81-run lead.

On the fourth day of the first Test in Karachi, New Zealand scored 519-6 at lunch when Kane Williamson and Ish Sodhi overcame Pakistan’s bowlers.

Williamson increased his overnight total of 105 to 137, and Sodhi was an able company on 41, negating the home team’s early wicket-taking attempts.

With a current advantage of 81 runs after resuming on 440-6, New Zealand is well-positioned to win the first Test of the two-match series.

With the score at 493-6, Pakistan took the third new ball, but neither the quick bowlers nor the spin pair of Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed were able to end the partnership, which had already produced 78 runs.

Television replays revealed Nauman’s delivery was pitched outside the leg stump, leading Williamson to overturn a leg-before ruling against him rendered by Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar on 116.

After Wednesday’s high scoring openers Tom Latham (113) and Devon Conway (92) anchored the innings, he has so far struck 12 boundaries in his 25th Test century.

With 3-172, Ahmed is Pakistan’s greatest bowler, and Nauman has 2-154.

In Pakistan, New Zealand is now playing its first Test series in 20 years.

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