Cricket: More top order questions

New Zealand opener Tom Latham is dismissed for 137 on the second day of the second test. Picture / AFP

Latham’s 137 the bright spot as Pakistan take back advantage in second test

New Zealand's batsmen were left to ponder the definition of "test match" last night, as three wickets, including that of century-maker Tom Latham, fell for 52 runs by lunch on the second day to bring Pakistan back into the second test.

Any sense of ascendancy from the opening day evaporated 17 balls into the first session when Latham was caught behind from a Rahat Ali delivery with the new ball. Rahat pitched up and was rewarded with late movement. Latham's dismissal followed that of Corey Anderson who popped a catch to cover point driving on the up.

Suddenly Jimmy Neesham and BJ Watling, players who had faced three balls between them in the second innings at Abu Dhabi, were tasked with rescuing the innings from implosion. They looked set for the task and got on with the job as the new ball deteriorated, posting 33 for the sixth wicket. Neesham toiled to 17 but ultimately couldn't deliver, playing a Yasir Shah leg spinner casually only to see it fly to Misbah-ul-Haq at short mid-wicket.

The weight of responsibility nursing the lower order sat well with Watling who concentrated his way to 18 at lunch taking a stroll towards square leg after each delivery to clear his head; the same couldn't be said for Mark Craig who looked and deserved to be dressing room-bound on nine when Rahat, running in from extra cover, dropped a miscued slog sweep off Yasir. His frustration trying to get the persistent Yasir off his case was palpable. After that let-off, Craig scraped to 13 at lunch.

No one is suggesting it is easy. Leg spinner Yasir and slow left-arm orthodox counterpart Zulfiqar Babar are difficult to endure but, if the side is to continue striving for success away from home, more application is required to negate them.

Middle order scoreboards reading 0, 48, 11, 42 then 8, 23, 0, 0 in Abu Dhabi and now 23, 9, 17 and Watling's 18 not out, do not set sides up to win tests.

Despite a sound first day, New Zealand must have reservations about how their top batsmen are performing. Latham contributed a century, just as he did in Abu Dhabi. Tick. However, question marks remain beside the performances of Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, the spine of New Zealand's successes over the past year. In the first test they made a total of 91 runs; here they delivered 98 runs in the first innings but none of the trio generated a commanding score.

McCullum's aerial pull to a deep mid-wicket trap was avoidable; Williamson was beaten down the wrong line for 32 and a Ross Taylor prod was snaffled at silly mid-off for 23. They offered more assurance but, in the context of the second morning their efforts left New Zealand vulnerable.

• Andrew Alderson travelled to the UAE courtesy of Emirates