New Zealand strike early as Pakistan falter

DUBAI: Pakistan were under pressure after losing both openers for 34 in reply to New Zealand’s 403 in the second Test in Dubai yesterday.

Azhar Ali (4) and Younis Khan (1) were unbeaten at the close of the second day after Shan Masood (13) and Taufeeq Umar (16) departed to give New Zealand an edge for the first time in the three-match series. Pakistan need 170 runs more to avoid the follow-on with eight wickets intact.

Pakistan’s new opening pair, after Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez were ruled out due to injuries, flopped as Masood played over a sharp turning delivery from Ish Sodhi and was bowled between the gap.

Umar was stumped off spinner Mark Craig.

That capped a good day for New Zealand who added 260 runs in the day.

Besides Tom Latham’s brilliant 137, New Zealand owed their total to tail-enders who added 125 runs for the last four wickets. Craig (43), BJ Watling (39) and Sodhi (32 not out) fought hard to ensure New Zealand got past the 400-mark.

Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar was the pick of bowlers with 4/137 while leggie Yasir Shah finished with 2/92 and seamer Ehsan Adil 2/73.

Watling and Craig added 68 for the seventh wicket in the post-lunch session and it was left to part-timer Azhar Ali to break the stand when he had Watling caught in the slips and then two runs later Babar trapped Craig legbefore.

Sodhi and Tim Southee (17) added a further 39 for the ninth wicket before Babar had the last laugh dismissing Southee and number 11 Trent Boult to wrap up the innings.–