Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 4: Highlights, Scorecard and Report

New Zealand are staring down the barrel of a crushing defeat, as Pakistan dominated the fourth day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan scored briskly on the fourth morning to prompt an early declaration, and their bowlers bewitched and beguiled the New Zealand who went to stumps at 174 for 8—which is 306 short of their victory target though in reality, their aim is to bat out the remaining 90 overs on Day 5 to force a draw.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Balls	4s	6s
TWM Latham	c Yasir Shah b Zulfiqar Babar	20	35	3	0
BB McCullum	lbw b Yasir Shah	39	49	7	0
KS Williamson	st Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Hafeez	23	45	3	0
LRPL Taylor	lbw b Yasir Shah	8	10	1	0
CJ Anderson	lbw b Imran Khan	23	48	1	0
JDS Neesham	c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Rahat Ali	0	2	0	0
BJ Watling	b Rahat Ali	0	1	0	0
MD Craig	not out	27	65	3	0
TG Southee	b Zulfiqar Babar	5	18	1	0
IS Sodhi	not out	27	51	5	0
Extras	(lb 2)	2
Total	(8 wickets; 54 overs)	174
Bowler		Overs	Runs	Maidens	Wickets
Rahat Ali		9	1	38	2
Imran Khan		7	0	34	1
Zulfiqar Babar		18	6	30	2
Yasir Shah		13	1	49	2
Mohammad Hafeez		7	0	21	1

Pakistan's openers strode to the crease high on confidence and batted as such, with Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali taking the score to 69 before the latter was trapped lbw by Ish Sodhi.

Younis Khan played the foil to Hafeez, who took to the New Zealand attack with relish. Seam and spin were treated with equal disdain, with it somewhat fitting that his century arrived with a brutal pull shot.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq immediately called his team in, declaring on 175 for 2 to set New Zealand an unlikely victory target of 480.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Mohammad Hafeez	not out	101	130	12	2
Azhar Ali	lbw b Sodhi	23	47	0	0
Younis Khan	lbw b Sodhi	28	45	2	0
Sarfraz Ahmed	not out	13	14	1	0
Extras	(b 6, lb 2, w 2)	10
Total	(2 wickets dec; 39.2 overs)	175
Bowler		Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
TA Boult		7	2	25	0
TG Southee		9	0	33	0
IS Sodhi		13	1	66	2
CJ Anderson		5	1	11	0
MD Craig		5	0	29	0
BB McCullum		0.2	0	3	0

"

#cricket Mohammad Hafeez gets his 6th test century and Pakistan declare their innings for the fifth time in a row... pic.twitter.com/O7CMeRAXux

— Rana Omer Hussain【ツ】 (@ranaomer) November 12, 2014"

Sodhi was inconsistent with his lengths, but when the leg-spinner found the right area, he imparted appreciable spin. 

Spitting leg-spin did not bode well for the New Zealand batsmen, but their openers, Tom Latham and Brendon McCullum, enjoyed the seam of Rahat Ali and Imran Khan.

Latham and McCullum brought up a half-century partnership, but the introduction of spin changed the course of the game.

Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah took three wickets in the space of 21 balls, removing Latham, McCullum and Ross Taylor to leave New Zealand tottering.

"

Yasir Shah involved in all 3 dismissals. Think after a long time we have a spinner who can field well also #PakvNZ

— Mansoor Ali Khan (@MansoorGeoNews) November 12, 2014"

Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson steadied things for a period of time for New Zealand, but Hafeez came into the attack to show he can bowl as well as bat with a delivery that beat the outside of Williamson's bat to provide Sarfraz Ahmed with a simple stumping.

Rahat Ali removed James Neesham and BJ Watling in successive balls, with the latter comprehensively clean bowled, to leave New Zealand on the brink at 112 for 6.

Anderson batted with assured calm, but after moving to 23, he was trapped lbw by Imran Khan after shouldering arms. Hawkeye showed the ball had pitched marginally outside leg stump, but Anderson elected not to review.

Cricingif.com

The departure of Anderson opened up both ends for Pakistan's bowlers, but they were unable to wrap up the match and will have to return in the morning to finish the job.