Babar Azam’s bizarre declaration had almost averted a certain draw in the first Test match, at the National Stadium. In the second Test, at the same venue, New Zealand reached 234-1 and collapsed to 345-9 before recovering to 449.

Pakistan, too, were reduced to 99-3 before Saud Shakeel (125 not out) added 93 with Imam-ul-Haq (83), 150 with Sarfaraz Ahmed (78), and 53 with Salman Agha (41) to help Pakistan keep the deficit to 41 runs. For New Zealand, Ajaz Patel (3-88) and Ish Sodhi (3-95) shared six wickets.

Devon Conway, who had scored 122 in the first innings, then fell to the first ball he faced in the second, but Latham (62) and Kane Williamson (41) piled on the runs, and New Zealand were 114-1 when Naseem Shah came to bowl at Latham.

In the previous over, Abrar had hit Latham on the back pad. When the umpire ruled not out, Pakistan did not review. Subsequent replays revealed that Latham would have been ruled out, had Pakistan reviewed.

Latham had earlier driven Naseem for four in the same over. Now Naseem bowled an ordinary ball, slightly overpitched, on leg-stump. There were four runs to be taken, and Latham flicked it – but he could not keep the ball down.

The ball flew to the left of Abrar at short mid-wicket. He flung himself to his left and came up with an excellent catch to send Latham back.

Abrar did not stop there. In his next over, he hit Williamson on the pad – and got the decision in his favour. He struck again next ball, only for Tom Blundell to review and get the decision overturned.

At the time of writing, New Zealand are 181-4 with Blundell on 41 and Michael Bracewell on 21. They lead by 222 runs.

Watch Abrar Ahmed’s one-handed catch:

REMARKABLE CATCH 💥

Abrar Ahmed with an unreal grab to send back Tom Latham 👏#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/LVKmMmdfhs

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 5, 2023