New Zealand bowled with discipline and looked set for a lead in the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai yesterday, despite Azhar Ali and Younis Khan’s half-centuries.
Pakistan lost Asad Shafiq in seamer Tim Southee’s penultimate over for 44 to end the day on 281-6, still trailing by 122 runs on New Zealand’s first innings total of 403.
Sarfraz Ahmed was unbeaten on 28 and Yasir Shah on 1 in a day when the Pakistan batsmen failed to score big after a good start.
Photo: AFP
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi led the New Zealand bowling with two for 65. Pakistan, resuming at 34-2, saw off the first session without losing a wicket as Younis Khan (72) and Azhar Ali (75) shared a 113-run stand for the third wicket.
Yet New Zealand got four wickets in the next two sessions to press their claim for a useful lead and in turn improve their chances of sealing a series-leveling win.
Pakistan won the first Test by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi.
Azhar added another 50 runs with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, but New Zealand hit back with the second new ball taken after 83 overs with the score at 194-3.
Trent Boult claimed his first wicket of the series with a beautiful delivery that got the edge of Misbah’s bat and landed in the safe hands of Ross Taylor at first slip.
Misbah’s 28 had two boundaries and a six.
Ali drove spinner Mark Craig through point for three to complete his 18th half-century, but he too fell, trying to cut Sodhi and getting bowled. He hit six boundaries and a six during his patient 5 hour, 22 minute vigil.
Shafiq was lucky to survive at 26 when Boult bowled him with a sharp incoming delivery, but to New Zealand’s dismay it turned out to be a no-ball. He too failed to bat for long and was caught off a loose shot in the end, adding 59 for the sixth wicket with Sarfraz.
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