*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

[Borges]

Great toss to win. See off Mohammad Abbas in his first spell, and then pile on the runs.

 

[harsh.ag]

Ajaz Patel any good?

 

[trundler]

Don't fancy Hassan Ali in tests at all.

 

[Gnske]

How has it already been so long since Latham's sweepathon last time in the UAE?

 

[Starfighter]

Would like to have seen them pick Shaheen just to get a look at him in tests.

 

[Mike5181]

Can't wait until the technology is widespread enough that we can have holograms fill the empty stadiums of these games.

 

[BeeGee]

Raval not moving his feet and playing away from his body. Technical issues.

 

[nightprowler10]

Would've thought Shaheen would be given a chance. I don't think Hasan Ali has proven to be better.

Excellent from Abbas.

 

[BeeGee]

So, so soft.

 

[trundler]

Disappointing way to go. Wanted to see these 2 masters of spin rack up a big total.

 

[Moss]

Sounds like a soft dismissal from Latham. Taylor starting out against spin, hmm, hope he brings his ODI form here.

 

[straw man]

Can't watch first session, reads like an bad dismissal by Latham. Really exposed now, pakistan just need one more to have a chance of starting a full collapse.

 

[nightprowler10]

Can anyone comment on how good the pitch is for batting?

 

[trundler]

Can anyone comment on how good the pitch is for batting?

It's a typical UAE pitch so far. Slow and not a lot going on.

 

[BeeGee]

Can anyone comment on how good the pitch is for batting?

It looks slow and dry. The kind of wicket that if a batsman digs in he'll be hard to get out, but it's also difficult to play shots on. I'd guess it'll be turning square by day three.

 

[trundler]

Decent turn for Yasir. Lazy shot.

 

[Bahnz]

Ross still looking pretty feeble against spin in asia. Good ball but Ross just tamely followed it with his hands.

 

[Moss]

Pakistan all over NZ like a rash. Unless Kane can grind it out and find some decent support this will get ugly.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Yasir with early wickets to boost his confidence will be a real handful from here on in. All about Williamson here, NZ chances depend on him getting a big one.

 

[Moss]

Thinking back to 2014, I remember McCullum opened the innings alongside Latham and even apart from the Sharjah double hundred would generally ensure NZ had a good and assertive start. Seeing how NZ are barely managing 2 an over here in the first session and have lost 3 wickets, it would appear they are missing someone who could reverse the momentum.