Pakistan vs. New Zealand: Winners and Losers from 2nd Test

Pakistan and New Zealand fought out a tense draw in the second Test of their three-match series in Dubai on Friday, as the hosts recovered from a major fourth-innings stutter to maintain their 1-0 lead. 

After the blowout in the opening match that had served as nothing more than a continuation of Pakistan's series against Australia, this week's tighter affair was pleasing for the neutral and has ensured the third Test to be played at Sharjah next week will still carry an importance. 

For Pakistan, this week's clash slowed their rampant form somewhat, seeing Misbah-ul-Haq's men forced to battle from behind for the first time since the current collection of Tests in the UAE began. 

New Zealand, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their ability to push the hosts in Dubai, given that Brendon McCullum's team looked as short on ideas as Australia had been just weeks earlier when spanked by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi.

Across the following slides, we examine the winners and losers from the second Test.

Winner: Tom Latham

Warren Little/Getty Images

When running down the list of New Zealand batsmen prior to this series, it's unlikely that many would have identified Tom Latham as the man to lead the charge for the visitors against Pakistan.

The owner of only four Test caps prior to the tour, the left-hander has been simply outstanding here in the UAE, following up his 103 in Abu Dhabi with a patient 137 in Dubai this week to drive the Kiwis into a position of relative control on the opening day. 

Most impressive in Latham's innings was his clarity of purpose against a surging Pakistani attack, calmly dealing with the spinning-threat posed by Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah to set a fine example for those around him.

A long stay in the New Zealand Test team now looks assured. 

Loser: Taufeeq Umar

Francois Nel/Getty Images

It's been more than a decade since Taufeeq Umar struck 104 on debut against Bangladesh in 2001, an innings that helped the left-hander to enjoy a prolonged run in the Pakistan Test side for several years.

But since 2006, the left-hander has endured a stop-start Test career that has looked dead and buried on more than one occasion.

A little luck, however, afforded the 33-year-old another chance in Dubai this week, as he was brought back into the side after injuries ruled out opening pair Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez for this week's second Test. 

Here it was, perhaps one last opportunity to enjoy a run in the team. But just 20 runs across two innings won't cut it for Taufeeq, who's likely to be discarded as soon as others are fit again. 

Winner: Sarfraz Ahmed

Francois Nel/Getty Images

When 2014 began, Sarfraz Ahmed hadn't played a Test for Pakistan in almost 12 months, and in total, had only represented his nation in the five-day format on four occasions. 

So when he reached yet another century in Dubai this week (his third in five Tests) to set the record for the most runs ever scored in a calendar year by a Pakistani wicketkeeper, it wasn't hard to understand his unbridled jubilation. 

Indeed, after a second-innings 24 not out that followed his 112 on Day 4, Sarfraz is now averaging 76.77 with the bat in Test cricket this year. 

Any other keeper's hopes of displacing the 27-year-old have been shattered. 

Loser: Corey Anderson

Francois Nel/Getty Images

A limited-overs blaster, the reasoning for the Corey Anderson's inclusion in New Zealand's Test side is obvious, for the Kiwis want some dynamism and attacking punch in the middle order. 

But the left-hander's first-class average is just 35 and his Test mark is less than that again. 

In Dubai this week, it showed.

While he can be partially excused for being beaten by Yasir Shah's outrageous turner in the second innings, his dismissal in the visitors' first innings when tamely scooping a drive to cover in the second over of Day 2 is one he'll want to forget in a hurry.

Winner: Ross Taylor

Francois Nel/Getty Images

Although we didn't see it during the first Test in Abu Dhabi, we've always known Ross Taylor is the sort of unique Kiwi talent capable of thriving in Asian conditions. 

In previous visits to the continent, he'd excelled where his teammates had stumbled, most notably two years ago in both India and Sri Lanka. 

So it wasn't surprising when it was the aggressive right-hander who dealt with the spin-friendly conditions while posting 104 to steer New Zealand to a second-innings total that ensured a difficult final days' work for Pakistan.

And ahead of an important final Test, Taylor's return to form will be a boost for Brendon McCullum's side.