Good morning! Let me welcome you with some great news from Christchurch: much in contrast to yesterday - where we saw the entire day washed out by rain - there's not a cloud in the sky today! So, we are going to get play.
Good morning! Let me welcome you with some great news from Christchurch: much in contrast to yesterday - where we saw the entire day washed out by rain - there's not a cloud in the sky today! So, we are going to get play.
Stay tuned for the toss at 10 am local time, so in another 20 minutes.
New Zealand wins the toss and opt to field. Jeet Raval and Colin de Grandhomme will make their New Zealand debut. Jimmy Neesham and Matt Henry miss out of the playing XI. For Pakistan, Babar Azam will play his second Test.
Williamson: "We are going to bowl. It's soft underneath and there's little bit of grass. Hope we restrict them soon Some of us had 3 to 4 days off. Nice to be back in the camp. We have two debutants: Jeet Raval and Colin de Grandhomme. James Neesham and Matt Henry miss out. Todd Astle is back for his second Test."
It has been a tale of debutants for New Zealand. First Colin de Grandhomme and then Jeet Raval.
Raval and Nicholls have rescued New Zealand from the spot of bother they found themselves in at 40 for 3 with the debutant opener scoring his maiden half-century en route a 50-plus run-stand. They now trail Pakistan by less than 50. Raval, in addition, also took three catches in the slip cordon earlier in the day.
Sohail Khan made an appeal for leg before against Raval, which was turned down by the umpire. Pakistan, however, decide to review. That ball-tracker shows that the ball would go over the stumps. The umpire's decision was upheld and the debutant survived.
New Zealand will take honours of Day 2 of the first Test in Christchurch after their debutants starred in stellar performances. First, it was Colin de Grandhomme, who starred with a six-wicket haul to help bowl Pakistan out for 133, returning 6 for 41 in 15.5 overs, before Jeet Raval steadied the hosts while wickets fell at the other end with an unbeaten 55. Ravat's knock took New Zealand to safety at 104 for 3 when stumps were drawn, having them trail by just 29 going into Day 3. On a day where 237 runs were scored, as many as 13 wickets fell in 91.5 overs. Thank you for your company today. Do join us on day three, where New Zealand will aim to get a strong lead and strengthen their hold on the game.