Pakistan dismissed for 133 by New Zealand

In addition to de Grandhomme’s 6-41 off 15.5 overs, Southee took two for 20 while Boult had figures of two for 39.

Southee returned to remove Aslam (19) and de Grandhomme took out Babar Azam and Younis Khan, before Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq put on 32 for the fifth wicket to get the innings into some kind of order.

Losing the toss and coming out to bat was always going to be hard for Misbah-ul-Haq’s batsmen but they would have never expected such a tame surrender to give Grandhomme a grand entry into Test cricket. Despite de Grandhomme picking the bulk of wickets in the session, Southee applied pressure with a spell that contained as many as seven maidens in ten overs, conceding only eight runs.

New Zealand debutants Colin de Grandhomme and Jeet Raval helped their side into a strong position at the close of the second day´s play of the first test against Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday.

The strapping allrounder claimed the best figures by any New Zealander on debut, taunting the Pakistanis with medium pacers perfectly suited to the green pitch.

After being sent in, Pakistan survived the first hour but when de Grandhomme clean bowled Azhar Ali for 15 with a sweet in-ducking ball it sparked a slide they couldn’t halt.

De Grandhomme snared three of New Zealand’s four opening-session wickets, as the visitors limped into the lunch break at 88-4 in 34 overs. He will be complemented by Trent Boult and Neil Wagner, brought in place of Jeetan Patel, the second spinner in their last Test against India in Indore.

The first day of play was rained off on Thursday.

The Auckland all-rounder then wrapped up the innings when Rahat Ali nicked behind to wicketkeeper BJ Watling for a five-ball duck.

“The conditions really suited him and he really bowled exceptionally well and hit his areas”.

Ali said if they can pick up some early wickets the whole scenario will change. He generated good swing both off the wicket and in the air to rip through the Pakistan batting line-up.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who would also have bowled had he won the toss, said he was confident his batsmen “know how to cope with the seam movement”.

Just when it seemed like Ross Taylor was steadying the ship with Raval, Taylor was left in disbelief given the circumstance.

Replacing dropped opener Martin Guptill, Raval showed real poise in his innings.

Colin de Grandhomme picked up six wickets to dismiss Pakistan for 133.