Tea Pakistan 224 for 4 (Babar 119*, Sarfaraz 43*, Bracewell 2-52) vs New Zealand

After surviving a dropped chance at first slip on 12 and a potential run-out chance in the first over after lunch, Babar made full use of a surface that turned benign after a tricky first hour to power on to his century, reaching the triple figures with a six over deep midwicket.

Even though Babar began his innings by staying inside the crease and playing off the back foot, he moved onto the front foot as his innings took a more assured turn after the degree of spin dwindled. Barring the occasional ball that stayed low, Babar could trust the pitch that did not offer extravagant bounce and in Sarfaraz's company led through the second session.

However, the wickets never came for New Zealand, with Southee rotating his bowlers more than he did in the first session where only four overs of pace were used. Southee himself got the ball to reverse, but the angle often took the ball down the leg side that allowed both batters to find runs at fine leg. Wagner paid the price too for straying too much on leg from over the stumps with the two batters not troubled by his leg-theory plan. Ish Sodhi, Bracewell and Patel were comfortably tackled too, despite New Zealand trying to keep the batters under pressure with multiple fielders under the helmet close to them.

That was quite unlike the first hour of the first session where it was spin that troubled Pakistan's top order. They had lost their first three wickets in a bizarre manner after trying to come down the wicket to negate the turn and take the spinners on. The day had started with Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood stumped off Patel and Bracewell respectively - the first time the first two wickets in a men's Test were out to stumping dismissals - and Imam-ul-Haq falling trying to clear mid-off by charging down the track, all inside the first hour of the Test.