Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 3rd Test: Day 2 Highlights, Scorecard and Report

International cricket resumed the day after Phillip Hughes’ death, but there was a sombre feeling as New Zealand wrestled control of the third Test from Pakistan.

A minute’s silence was observed before the day's play, which had been put back 24 hours following Hughes' death. Both teams put out their bats in honour, and there was general silence throughout as no celebrations were made on the fall of wickets.

"

Nice to see that #NewZealand players doesn't celebrate #Pakistan 's wicket today. #PhilHughes #PutOutYourBats #63notout #RIP #PAKvNZ

— #RIPPhilHughes (@IamSubodha) November 28, 2014"

Wickets did fall, though—most of them to Mark Craig, whose seven for 94 helped New Zealand bowl Pakistan out for 351.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Minutes	Balls
Mohammad Hafeez	c Boult b Sodhi	197	434	316
Shan Masood	b Craig	12	71	57
Azhar Ali	c Taylor b Craig	39	113	102
Younis Khan	lbw b Vettori	5	20	13
Misbah-ul-Haq	c †Watling b Southee	38	173	120
Asad Shafiq	c Sodhi b Craig	11		39
Sarfraz Ahmed	c †Watling b Craig	15		24
Yasir Shah	c Taylor b Craig	25		65
Mohammad Talha	c Latham b Craig	0		4
Rahat Ali	c Taylor b Craig	0		13
Zulfiqar Babar	not out	0		2
Extras	(lb 4, w 4, nb 1)	9
Total	(all out; 125.4 overs)	351
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
TA Boult	21	6	54	0
TG Southee	24	4	54	1
DL Vettori	19	5	41	1
CJ Anderson	12	4	28	0
MD Craig	27.4	5	94	7
IS Sodhi	22	3	76	1

In reply, New Zealand raced to 249-1 at stumps, thanks to a record-breaking 78-ball century from Brendon McCullum.

"

McCullum brings up NZ's fastest Test century from 78 balls. What a performance #pakvnz ^CE

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 28, 2014"

New Zealand took the first wicket early on, with Misbah-ul-Haq failing to add to his overnight score. The Pakistan skipper edged Tim Southee to BJ Watling.

Watling plunged to his right to take an excellent catch. It was the sort of grab that would have prompted wild celebrations, but the mood did not allow it, and the players huddled together with heads bowed.

Francois Nel/Getty Images

Mohammad Hafeez pressed on from his score of 178 from Day 1, but he fell three short of a double ton.

The departure of Hafeez opened the door to New Zealand, with Craig running through the tail. Pakistan were 311-5 as Hafeez departed. They were all out 40 runs later.

McCullum went on the front foot from the moment he strode out to the crease.

He was brutal on anything that was slightly off line or length. He raced to 50 in 30 balls, but he did not stop there, and his century—which came off the final ball before tea—was achieved off 78 balls.

McCullum was a shade more circumspect in the evening session, but continued to punish the bad balls and was unbeaten on 153—which featured 17 fours and eight sixes—at stumps.

Francois Nel/Getty Images

While McCullum took the spotlight with his dashing approach, he received able support at the other end from Kane Williamson.

Williamson scored at almost a run a ball and made his way to 76 at the close of play, but the dominance of McCullum meant he went virtually unnoticed.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Minutes	Balls
TWM Latham	c Sarfraz Ahmed b Rahat Ali	13	44	32
BB McCullum	not out	153		145
KS Williamson	not out	76		96
Extras	(lb 2, w 2, nb 3)	7
Total	(1 wicket; 45 overs)	249
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Mohammad Talha	7	0	62	0
Rahat Ali	8	0	24	1
Zulfiqar Babar	10	1	71	0
Yasir Shah	10	0	59	0
Mohammad Hafeez	10	2	31	0

Cricket was secondary today, but the quite brilliant innings of McCullum showed that the show must, and will, go on.

He has batted New Zealand into a position where they can press on and push for a victory. His team-mates must follow the example of their captain over the next three days.