Southee's six keeps Kiwis in front of Pakistan at Hamilton

Hamilton - Only rookie batsman Babar Azam was able to cope with New Zealand's chief strike bowler

Tim Southee bagged six wickets as New Zealand took a 55-run lead over Pakistan on a rain-shortened third day of the second Test in Hamilton on Sunday.
Only rookie batsman Babar Azam was able to cope with New Zealand's chief strike bowler and he was left stranded on 90 after running out of partners as Pakistan fought their way back into the match.
Pakistan, after resuming the day on the ropes at 76-5, clawed their way to 216 in reply to New Zealand's first innings 271.
New Zealand only faced one dot ball in their second innings before rain sent the players from the field for the third and final time in a day when only 38 overs were possible.
Southee was given a pounding in his first three overs of the morning and was removed from the attack after yielding 32 runs. But he came back to wrap up the tail and finish with figures of 6-80, his third-best bowling performance.
While the 54-Test veteran headlined the New Zealand bowling performance, it was Azam in only his third Test who brought Pakistan back into the game.
The 22-year-old was considered a special talent at age-group level and announced himself on the international stage last month with three consecutive centuries in Pakistan's one-day series against the West Indies.
He followed with a 69 in his Test debut against the West Indies and looked set for his maiden Test hundred when the Pakistan innings ended in Hamilton. - AFP