BSP-19 New Zealand face uphill battle after Azhar, Shafiq hit hundreds

1035

ZCZC

BSP-19

CRICKET-PAK-NZL

New Zealand face uphill battle after Azhar, Shafiq hit hundreds

ABU DHABI, Dec 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq hit centuries
to leave Pakistan in command of the third and final Test against New Zealand
in Abu Dhabi despite a batting collapse that curtailed their first-innings
lead.

Azhar hit an attractive 134 for his 15th Test hundred while Shafiq scored
104, but debutant New Zealand off-spinner Will Somerville took four wickets
to restrict Pakistan to 348 all out.

Pakistan appeared set to build a huge lead before collapsing from 286-3 to
lose their final seven wickets for the addition of just 62 runs.

The 34-year-old Somerville finished with 4-75 while left-arm spinner Ajaz
Patel took 2-100 and pace spearhead Trent Boult chipped in with 2-66.

That gave Pakistan a 74-run lead — the same they got in the first Test at
the same venue before losing by four runs.

New Zealand were then reduced to 26-2 at stumps with Kane Williamson
unbeaten on 14 and nightwatchman Somerville on one not out to leave them
trailing by 48 runs with eight wickets intact.

Paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi trapped Jeet Raval for nought while leg-spinner
Yasir Shah had Tom Latham caught for ten, his 199th wicket in Tests. Yasir
needs just one more wicket to become the fastest to 200 wickets, in his 33rd
Test, a record currently held by Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett who
reached the milestone in 36 Tests, 82 years ago.

Azhar and Shafiq put on 201 for the fourth wicket, but once they were
dismissed only Sarfraz Ahmed (25) and Babar Azam (14) offered some
resistance.

Azhar edged medium pacer Colin de Grandhomme through the slips to complete
his first century since May 2017 against the West Indies in Dominica – and
his first hundred against New Zealand.

He took 210 balls to reach the three-figure mark, before being caught
sweeping off Somerville, just before tea.

Shafiq brought up his 12th Test ton with a sharp single off Somerville
before falling leg-before to Patel to a straight delivery.

Somerville then had Azam and Hasan Ali (nought) bowled and wrapped up the
innings by getting Sarfraz caught at mid-wicket.

Earlier, Azhar and Shafiq frustrated New Zealand’s search for early wickets
as they took Pakistan to 224-3 at lunch.

New Zealand skipper Williamson took the second new ball in the 81st over
with Pakistan comfortably placed at 213-3, but the bowlers struggled to
extract much life from a flat pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Pakistan levelled the series with an innings and 16-run win in the second
Test in Dubai.

BSS/AFP/BZC/1815HRS