On a day that started off on bright note for Pakistan fast bowlers, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson batted with great defiance to ensure the hosts keep the visitors at bay. 

Williamson's unbeaten 94 helped the Black Caps end play on Day 1 of the first Test in Mount Maunganui at a relatively comforting 222/3. 

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The hosts had earlier on found themselves in a precarious situation at 13/2 after pacer Shaheen Afridi's fantastic opening burst that saw the quick departures for opening batsmen Tom Latham (4) and Tom Blundell (5). 

Looking in trouble, the Kiwis found their saviours in the captain and the former captain as Ross Taylor joined a determined Williamson to the crease and they stitched a brilliant stand of 120 runs. Taylor out-scored the maestro at the other end, making 70 of those runs from his willow. 

But just when Taylor and Williamson seemed to have regained control, Pakistan were brought back into the match by Shaheen who got the former out edging the ball back to the wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan. 

At that point, the visitors would've had their hopes raised. However, the pendulum shifted once again, as centurion from the last Test versus West Indies, Henry Nicholls, continued from where he left and scored 42 not out. 

Williamson at the other end also maintained his guard and stood resolute to near yet another Test century by the close of play. 

From Pakistan's perspective, the visitors will be disappointed that, while being economical, none of their pacers outside Shaheen (3/55) could get among the wickets. Mohammad Abbas (0/25), Faheem Ashraf (0/30) and Naseem Shah (0/51) didn't allow the game to run away, but couldn't also put Pakistan in the ascendency. They'll hope to resurrect that on Day 2, while the Kiwis look to assert dominance. 

Brief Scores: 

New Zealand 222/3 (Kane Williamson 94*, Ross Taylor 70; Shaheen Afridi 3-55) versus Pakistan