Ton-up duo put Pakistan in command

– Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq both 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 (right) 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 on day three.

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 10, 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.

With bowlers struggling to extract much life from a flat pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Azhar and Shafiq put on 201 for the fourth wicket, but once they were dismissed, only Sarfraz Ahmed (25) and Babar Azam (14) offered resistance.

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

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