Raval, Williamson help NZ cruise home

New Zealand 200 (Raval 55, Rahat 4-62) and 108 for 2 (Williamson 61, Raval 36*) beat Pakistan 133 (Misbah 31, de Grandhomme 6-41) and 171 (Sohail 41, Wagner 3-34, Boult 3-37) by eight wickets Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Jeet Raval, gutsy and happy to dig in on the face of a challenge, came through a testing new-ball burst to help New Zealand chase down 105 by eight wickets shortly after lunch to give New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. He had Kane Williamson, the captain, for company till the doorstep of victory before finishingunbeaten on 36 to go with his first-innings 55 to cap off a fine debut along with Colin de Grandhomme, who took seven wickets, on a seamer-friendly Hagley Oval surface.

What could have been a tricky chase had they lost a couple of early wickets was converted into cruise by Raval and Williamson, who put together 85 for the second wicket. Once the initial burst was weathered, both batsmen were happy to play their shots on a surface that seemed to have eased out considerably. Runs that appeared to be at a premium for large parts of days two and three were had much more freely. Williamson, in particular, exhibited some fine cuts and delicate little dabs to make 61 before falling with New Zealand needing one. Raval, quite fittingly, hit the winning runs by pulling Yasir Shah for four over midwicket as New Zealand arrested a four-match losing streak.

Mohammad Amir, struggling with no-balls at times, wheeled away, relentlessly and was rewarded with the wicket …

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