Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 2nd Test: Day 3 Highlights, Scorecard, Report

Pakistan batted through the whole of the third day to put the second Test with New Zealand back in the balance.

New Zealand dominated the first couple of days and had high hopes of pressing home their position with the ball, but they found Pakistan in a determined mood with the bat.

Contributions of 75 and 72 from Azhar Ali and Younis Khan, respectively, ensured Pakistan avoided the follow-on, and their batsmen will look to get somewhere close to the New Zealand total of 403 on the fourth day.

Batsman	How out	Runs	Minutes	Balls
Shan Masood	b Sodhi	13	52	48
Taufeeq Umar	st †Watling b Craig	16	63	42
Azhar Ali	b Sodhi	75	322	225
Younis Khan	c Craig b Neesham	72	195	160
Misbah-ul-Haq	c Taylor b Boult	28	74	55
Asad Shafiq	c Taylor b Southee	44	100	73
Sarfraz Ahmed	not out	28		47
Yasir Shah	not out	1		5
Extras	(b 1, lb 2, nb 1)	4
Total	for 6	281
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
TA Boult	22	8	46	1
TG Southee	21	3	41	1
MD Craig	24	5	94	1
IS Sodhi	30	7	65	2
CJ Anderson	7	0	26	0
JDS Neesham	5	1	6	1

New Zealand began the day with a spring in their step after taking two wickets late the previous evening, but they were frustrated by obdurate batting from Azhar and Younis.

The Pakistan batsmen nullified the threat from spinners Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig, mixing defence with attack, and they batted through the entire morning session.

The afternoon session began positively for Pakistan, with Azhar and Younis continuing their excellent progress, and they put on their fourth century partnership.

The pair looked set to put on a huge score, but Younis fell to a rank long hop from Jimmy Neesham, which he slapped straight to the gleeful figure of Craig in the covers.

"

Younis Khan and Azhar Ali put on their fourth century stand of the year before the former gifted his wicket to New... #Pakistan #Cricket

— SPORTS (@DotBall) November 19, 2014"

The imposing figure of Misbah-ul-Haq strode to the wicket and looked in excellent touch, but he fell to a superb angled ball from Trent Boult, which took the edge and offered a catch to Ross Taylor in the slips.

While wickets fell around him, Azhar continued his slow and steady progress, but his stay at the crease ended in the 93rd over as a bit of extra bounce from Sodhi got him in a tangle and the ball cannoned into the stumps via his pad.

New Zealand sensed an opening, but they were dealt a hammer blow in the 96th over as Boult beat Asad Shafiq’s defence to remove middle stump. His celebrations were cut short by an umpire’s call of no-ball, however.

"

Trent Boult's chronic no ball problem has cost him again..

— JD Jordan (@iAmJDJordan) November 19, 2014"

Shafiq looked like cashing in on his life, easing his way to 44, but he fell to Tim Southee in the penultimate over of the day, with Taylor taking his second slip catch of the day.

The wicket saw New Zealand head to stumps on a high for a second day in succession, with Pakistan closing on 281 for 6, but they will need quick wickets and quick runs on the fourth day if they are to stand any chance of forcing a result.