Pakistan reached 182-3 at tea on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand in Dubai on Wednesday.
At the interval Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 57 and skipper Misbah-ul Haq not out on 23 after Pakistan lost the in-form Younis Khan for 72 in the post-lunch session. Pakistan still trail New Zealand s first innings total of 403 by 221 runs. Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan were under pressure after losing both their openers for 32 in reply to New Zealand’s daunting target of 403. Shan Masood (13) and Taufiq Umar (16) departed early to give the Kiwis an edge for the first time in the series.
Pakistan’s new opening pair, after Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez were ruled out due to injuries, flopped as Shan played over a sharp turning delivery from Ish Sodhi and was bowled between the gap.
Fellow left-hander Taufiq, playing his first Test in two years, was stumped as he was beaten by off-spinner Mark Craig. Besides opener Tom Latham’s brilliant 137, New Zealand owed their total to tail-enders who added 125 runs for the last four wickets after they had seemingly squandered a chance to post a big total at 278-6.
Mark Craig (43), BJ Watling (39) and Ish Sodhi (32 not out) fought hard to ensure New Zealand get past the 400-mark, a total which could put an in-form Pakistan batting under pressure.
