Kane Williamson’s first international century in almost two years put New Zealand on top in the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Williamson, who stepped down from the longest-format captaincy in his team’s first Test tour to Pakistan in 20 years, capitalised on two missed stumpings to hit an unbeaten 105 as the Black Caps reached 440 for 6 at stumps on the third day, leading by two runs.

It was Williamson’s first international century since his 238 against Pakistan in Hamilton in January 2021.

Tom Latham also brought up his 13th Test century, becoming the first New Zealand opener to achieve the feat, and Devon Conway finished at 92 as the visitors dominated the Pakistan spinners on a slow turner.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed picked up 3 for 143 and left-arm spinner Nauman Ali took 2 for 137. Neither of them could wrestle control away from the New Zealand batters.

Wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, making a Test comeback after four years, fumbled stumping opportunities when Williamson was on 15 and 21, while the former skipper also overturned an lbw ruling off Abrar’s bowling through a review.

Tom Blundell (47) and Daryl Mitchell (42) played useful knocks and shared half-century stands with Williamson against some scrappy Pakistan fielding. Blundell was dropped low down by Imam-ul Haq at shortmid-wicket before pacer Mohammad Wasim had him lbwlate in the day.

Mitchell, who scored three centuries and two half-centuries in the three-Test series against England in June, smashed four successive boundaries off Wasim after Pakistan took the second new ball. Abrar removed Mitchell and Latham as both batters tried to play the reverse sweep.

Captain Babar Azam was among at least three Pakistan players hit by a virus and didn’t take the field at the start. He stayed off until half an hour after lunch.

Agha Salman, who hit a maiden Test hundred in Pakistan’s first innings total of 438, is also unwell and didn’t field on Wednesday.