Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 3: Highlights, Scorecard and Report
Pakistan tightened their grip on the first Test against New Zealand with a dominant display with the ball on Day 3 in Abu Dhabi.
Having racked up 566 for 3 declared over the course of the first two days, Pakistan’s bowlers took centre stage to fire New Zealand out for 262—with Rahat Ali the standout performer.
"17-10-22-4 for Rahat Ali. Incredible bowling performance on a flat pitch.
— Rudi (@RudiEdsall) November 11, 2014"
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Pakistan could have enforced the follow-on, but elected to bat again. Their batsmen will look for quick runs on Day 4 ahead of a second crack at New Zealand in the second innings.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| TWM Latham | lbw b Rahat Ali | 103 | 222 | 13 | 0 |
| BB McCullum* | c Younis Khan b Zulfiqar Babar | 18 | 45 | 2 | 0 |
| KS Williamson | b Rahat Ali | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| LRPL Taylor | c Asad Shafiq b Zulfiqar Babar | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| CJ Anderson | b Rahat Ali | 48 | 70 | 8 | 0 |
| JDS Neesham | st †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Hafeez | 11 | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| BJ Watling† | lbw b Zulfiqar Babar | 42 | 96 | 4 | 0 |
| MD Craig | run out (Rahat Ali/†Sarfraz Ahmed/Yasir Shah) | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| TG Southee | c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Rahat Ali | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| IS Sodhi | b Yasir Shah | 25 | 46 | 5 | 0 |
| TA Boult | Not Out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 7, nb 4) | 11 | |||
| Total | all out; 87.3 overs | 262 | |||
| Bowler | |||||
| Rahat Ali | 17 | 10 | 22 | 4 | |
| Imran Khan | 11 | 2 | 29 | 0 | |
| Zulfiqar Babar | 27.3 | 5 | 79 | 3 | |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 15 | 1 | 60 | 1 | |
| Yasir Shah | 17 | 1 | 65 | 1 |
Bat dominated ball on the opening two days, which gave New Zealand fans cause for optimism. But that optimism was soon destroyed, as the Black Caps top order was blown away.
Tom Latham and Brendon McCullum put on 33 for the first wicket, but the latter fell to a fine low catch from Younis Khan off Zulfiqar Babar to open the door for Pakistan.
Miserly bowling from Rahat strangled the New Zealanders and with fielders around the bat, chances were created.
A superb yorker from Rahat beat the defences of Kane Williamson, while Ross Taylor’s first innings back following injury lasted a mere six balls—as he edged Zulfiqar to the grateful hands of Asad Shafiq in the gully.
CJ Anderson (48) provided support to Latham, and the pair put on 73 for the fourth wicket—with Anderson targeting leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
Misbah brought Rahat back into the attack and he prised out Anderson, who went for one attacking shot too many and dragged the ball onto his stumps.
Latham did not find batting easy against the superb probing of the Pakistan attack, but he rode his luck and grew in confidence.
He brought up his maiden Test ton with a clip down the ground off Babar but a couple of overs later he was trapped lbw by Rahat for a well made, gritty 103.
"I reckon Tom Latham's inns means he & dad Rod are only 3rd NZ father & son pairing to make Test hundreds & only 11th in history #PakvNZ
— Brian Murgatroyd (@murgersb) November 11, 2014"
Mark Craig and Tim Southee fell with the score on 219 to leave New Zealand staring down the barrel, but BJ Watling (42) and Ish Sodhi (25) took the Black Caps to a semblance of respectability on 262 before both fell in quick succession.
Pakistan elected not to enforce the follow-on, with Misbah seemingly happy to let his bowlers put their feet up and watch his batsmen pile on the runs.
Azhar Ali—opening in place of Ahmed Shehzad, who suffered a fractured skull earlier in the game—and Mohammad Hafeez saw Pakistan through to stumps without alarm to swell their lead to 319.
It is likely to be a tough two days with ball and bat for New Zealand.
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