New Zealand eye first Pakistan series Win in Decades

Hamilton: New Zealand have a chance to seal a first series win against Pakistan in more than 30 years in the second Test in Hamilton with the tourists without talisman Misbah-ul-Haq.

The seventh-ranked BlackCaps go into the match which begins Friday 1-0 up in the two-Test series following a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over second-ranked Pakistan in the opening Test in Christchurch.

A win or draw in Hamilton will be enough for New Zealand to notch their first series win over Pakistan since 1985 and only their third ever in 22 series between the two countries.

Wahab Riaz took three wickets in that onslaught and comes into contention for this Test after being by-passed in Christchurch.

Pakistan need their own injection of good fortune as they battle to turn around a sub-par batting performance in Christchurch where they totalled only 304 in two innings.

The inspirational Misbah, who has kept Pakistan unbeaten in the last seven series they have played around the world, has returned home following a family bereavement.

He would not have been available even if he had stayed in New Zealand after receiving a one-Test ban for Pakistan's slow over rate in the first Test.

Azhar even suggested there was the possibility that acclaimed leg-spinner Yasir Shah could be excluded.

New Zealand have spinner Mitchell Santner back in their squad after recovering from a wrist fracture while Dean Brownlie, whose last Test was in 2013, was recalled as cover for Ross Taylor after a growth was detected in his left eye.

However, late Wednesday the 77-Test veteran was cleared to play in Hamilton, although he will undergo surgery afterwards.

Both sides head to Australia after the Test, where New Zealand will play three ODIs and Pakistan three Tests as well as a series of limited-over matches.
 
Teams from:

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Todd Astle, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Jeet Raval, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Dean Brownlie, Doug Bracewell.

Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Sami Aslam, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan.

Stats and trivia

• New Zealand have not won series against Pakistan since 1984/85, when they win by 2-0.
• The last time they met six years ago in Hamilton, New Zealand collapsed spectacularly in their second innings, losing their last eight wickets for 50 runs to be beaten by 10 wickets.
• Pakistan have not lost a series since August 2014, when they were defeated 0-2 in Sri Lanka
• Trent Boult misses first Test since early 2012.

Match facts
25-29 November 2016
Start time 1100 local (2200 GMT previus day)