New Zealand cricketers celebrating after the dismissal of Pakistani batsman Haris Sohail during the second day of the third and final Test at the Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday — AFP ABU DHABI, Dec 04 (AFP): Pakistan, in reply to New Zealand's first innings total of 274, were 139-3 at close on the second day of the third and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 62 at the close with Asad Shafiq on 26. Pakistan still trail by 135 runs with seven wickets intact.
Earlier, Pakistan got off to a poor start when opener Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed without scoring. He fell to a low catch in the slips by Tim Southee off paceman Trent Boult as Pakistan were 0-1 at lunch after BJ Watling's fighting, unbeaten 77 took New Zealand to 274 all out in their first innings.
Fellow opener Imamul Haq was unbeaten on nought as Pakistan trailed by 274 runs with nine wickets intact as both teams fight for a series-clinching win.
The three-match series is tied at 1-1.
It was Watling who carried New Zealand's overnight total from 229-7 and added an invaluable 45 runs over the last three wickets to frustrate Pakistan.
During his five-and-a-half-hour knock Watling, when on 66, passed 3,000 runs in his 56th Test.
He is the 14th New Zealand batsman to score 3,000 or more runs, joining a list topped by Stephen Fleming who scored 7,172 in 111 Tests.
Watling and debutant Will Somerville kept Pakistan's bowlers at bay, adding 45 runs for the eighth wicket before off-spinner Bilal Asif took all three final wickets to finish with 5-65, his second five-for in five Tests.
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