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  • World records: In-form Pakistan flay Kiwis

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    Misbah-ul-Haq playing a reverse sweep shot during the first Test match against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. AFP photo Misbah-ul-Haq playing a reverse sweep shot during the first Test match against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.

    Pakistan lifted the momentum from their 'whitewash' of Australia just days ago, repeating the dose against New Zealand.

    The first Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand is underway at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and right from the start Pakistan has given similar treatment to Australia's neighbours.

    Ahmed Shehzad hit a brilliant century and partnered a record-breaking first-wicket stand of 178 with Mohammad Hafeez to steer Pakistan to a commanding position.

    Shehzad later fractured his skull after being struck by an unexpected short delivery by Corey Anderson. Shehzad had lost his wicket by falling on to the stumps — a sigh of relief for the Kiwis though, getting a long-awaited breakthrough in the most unexpected fashion.

    As the game moved on, it was not only Shehzad or Hafeez who stood tall against the New Zealand spearheads, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq also added to their miseries.

    Such a purple patch it was that a team like Pakistan, often derided for being unpredictable, continued the excellent consistency they had achieved during the Australia Tests.

    Apart from top-scorer Shehzad's 176, Pakistan also made a unique world record. Of all the top five batsmen who came in to bat, each of them scored above 80 runs. This is something no Test playing nation has achieved as of yet.

    Pakistan managed to stage a mammoth 566 runs on the scoreboard before asking the Kiwis to try their batting potential on a dry-turning Abu Dhabi pitch.

    All Pakistan needs now is to continue attacking New Zealand — a team which has struggled against spin and has not won a Test series against Pakistan since a 2-0 triumph at home in 1985.

    Moreover, Pakistan's home record against the Kiwis is most impressive. Pakistan has not lost to New Zealand since 1969.

    Of the 50 Test match in total played between the two, Pakistan has won 23, whereas New Zealand managed to clinch seven of them with 20 ended up in a draw.