Pakistan remove Raval in three-wicket session

Pakistan carved into the New Zealand line up with three wickets and brought Jeet Raval's charmed run to an end on the second morning of the second Test in Hamilton on Saturday.
At lunch, New Zealand were 170-5 with Colin de Grandhomme on 37 and BJ Watling on 10.
Raval, who compiled his second half century in only his third Test innings, was out for 55 when the third chance he nicked to first slip was firmly taken by Mohammad Rizwan.
Raval had been dropped by Sami Aslam in the first over of the rain-abridged first day and again by the same fielder when on 40 on the second morning.

Two blown chances was enough for captain Azhar Ali and there was no let off for Raval on the third edge after Rizwan was moved to the key catching position.
Raval added 20 to his overnight score after New Zealand resumed the day at 77-2 and were able to progress without too much pressure.

The fiestiness of Mohammad Amir's opening spell of the Test was lacking for much of the time but when Pakistan did get line and length right they found the New Zealand batsmen wanting.
Taylor advanced by seven runs to 37 when he was out showing a lack of foot movement to a Sohail ball that cut back and was edged through to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Apart from the August tour of Zimbabwe, when he scored two centuries and a 50, it was Taylor's highest score in 17 Test innings over the past year.
Raval went jabbing at a short, rising Imran delivery while Henry Nicholls (13) was outsmarted by Wahab Riaz who pushed the batsman back with three short balls before catching him flat-footed with a full delivery that was edged to Ahmed.
De Grandhomme was given out on seven, caught behind off Amir, but the dismissal was overturned when replays showed daylight between bat and ball and he has since added a further 30 runs.

Sohail has been the most successful Pakistan bowler with 2-62 and Imran the most economical with 1-32.