Yasir two shy of fastest to 200 wickets as NZ struggle on Day 1
ABU DHABI: Yasir Shah dismissed three New Zealand batsmen to come within two wickets of becoming the fastest man to 200 wickets in Test cricket on day one of the third and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
New Zealand, who won the toss and opted to bat, reached 229-7 at the close of the opening day.
Skipper Kane Williamson scored 89 while BJ Watling finished with an unbeaten 42 after New Zealand — who won the toss and batted — were reduced to 73-4 at lunch.
Debutant Will Somerville was the other not out batsman on 12.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who needed five wickets to become the fastest to 200 Test wickets befor this Test — managed 3-62 while off-spinner Bilal Asif took 2-57.
Shah trapped opener Jeet Raval on 45, bowled Ross Taylor for nought with his next ball and then Henry Nicholls.
Yasir now has 198 wickets in his 33rd Test, just two shy of Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett’s world record 200 wickets in 36 Tests achieved in 1936.
There is all to play for as the series is level at 1-1, after New Zealand won the first Test by four runs in Abu Dhabi and Pakistan bounced back with an innings and 16 runs victory in Dubai.
New Zealand were cruising along nicely when Yasir started his demolition act in his seventh over, trapping Raval leg before with a faster one.
With his next ball, Yasir cleanbowled Taylor as the batsman went back but completely missed the ball. In his next over Yasir dismissed Nicholls who played on to his stumps.
New Zealand, who won the first Test by four runs in Abu Dhabi, brought in fast bowler Tim Southee and off-spinner Will Somerville in place of Neil Wagner and Ish Sodhi.
Brief scores (Stumps, Day 1): New Zealand 229/7 in 90 ovs (J Raval 45, K Williamson 89, B Watling 42*; Y Shah 3/62) v Pakistan.