‘Bas kardo ab bhai’ – Fans react as Matt Henry helps New Zealand survive till lunch on Day 2 of 2nd Test

Pakistan and New Zealand faced off in the second Test that kicked off on January 2, 2023, Monday and it was the Kiwi batters who dominated with their bat in the first innings. To add more, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, with the first Test ending in a draw, the openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway got off to a steady start putting on over 100-run partnership for the first wicket. 

To add more, while Latham made his way back to the dressing room after contributing 71 runs to the scoreboard, Conway, on the other hand, reached the three-figure landmark and perished for 122 runs, putting the Black Caps in a strong position of 234/2. However, it was the middle order that disappointed the team with veteran Kane Williamson rushing back for just 36 runs and Henry Nicholls for 26. 

In no time, the Kiwis were reduced to 279/6 and many opined that they would be wrapped up before reaching the 350 mark. Day 1 ended with New Zealand reeling at 309/6 with Ish Sodhi unbeaten at 11 and Tom Blundell at 30. Agha Salman, the star Pakistani cricketer, picked up a three-for to his name and outclassed during the opening day. 

Matt Henry’s heroics on Tuesday helps New Zealand get past 400-run landmark on Day 2

The New Zealanders were reduced to 345/9 on Day 2, Session 1 and much to the delight of the fans, it was Matt Henry who stood up for the team, joining hands with Ajaz Patel, putting on a 50-plus run stand for the 10th wicket. To add more, Henry scored a fifty to his name and looked steady as the tail-enders kept nicking the ball, eventually breaching the 400-run landmark. 

Fans left no stone unturned to take a dig at the Pakistani batters for their low strike rate as Henry managed to bring up his fifty off just 42 balls, surprising the entire set of team members of the Pakistani team. It was delight and joy for the Kiwi camp as they managed to get past the 400-run mark when they were expected to be bowled out for 350. At the end of Session 1 on Day 2, the New Zealanders were reeling at 433/9, with a stand of 88 for the 10th wicket. 

As things stand, let us take a look at a few Twitter reactions to New Zealand’s first innings: 

All the hardwork of the 1st hour being undone in the 2nd hour by @TheRealPCB. @BLACKCAPS will be stoked with this performance by @AjazP and Matt Henry. Time the captain demotes himself in the batting order #PakvsNZ #PAKvNZ

— Rahul Patil (@rahulpatilnz) January 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/infinitevishesh/status/1610174615866990593?s=20&t=pc2f5ZlYQH0ePvfjSwICBw

https://twitter.com/m_nouman5/status/1610174555645169664?s=20&t=pc2f5ZlYQH0ePvfjSwICBw

https://twitter.com/sweetfawn479255/status/1610174416201351169?s=20&t=pc2f5ZlYQH0ePvfjSwICBw

Matt Henry a Bazball believer? #PakvsNZ #testcricket

— Chukku Vellam (@pgboon) January 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/ShazziyaM/status/1610177869849808896?s=20&t=pc2f5ZlYQH0ePvfjSwICBw

100 runs for 10th wicket what a shame!!#PakvsNZ

— Adnan Alavi (@adnanalavi) January 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/TariqAjiya/status/1610176913611362306?s=20&t=pc2f5ZlYQH0ePvfjSwICBw

https://twitter.com/mehrma0/status/1610174782460272640?s=20&t=pc2f5ZlYQH0ePvfjSwICBw

https://twitter.com/uroojjawed12/status/1610174467124215808?s=20&t=pc2f5ZlYQH0ePvfjSwICBw