Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 2nd Test, Day 5: Highlights, Scorecard and Report
New Zealand's bowlers were unable to prevent the second Test between the Black Caps and Pakistan ending in a draw in Dubai on Friday.
Ross Taylor completed his century in the morning session before New Zealand declared on 250-9, setting Pakistan a target of 261 for the win.
On a thrilling final day, the Black Caps bowlers did all they were able to but could only reduce the hosts to 196-5 before eventually being scuppered by the Pakistanis' obstinate resistance, and they now head into the final Test 1-0 down in the series.
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| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Mins | Balls |
| Latham | c Shafiq | b Yasir Shah | 9 | 54 | 35 |
| B McCullum | lbw | b Zulfiqar Babar | 45 | 94 | 62 |
| Williamson | c Taufeeq Umar | b Zulfiqar Babar | 11 | 29 | 26 |
| Taylor | st Sarfraz Ahmed | b Yasir Shah | 104 | 204 | 133 |
| Anderson | b Yasir Shah | 0 | 4 | 4 | |
| Neesham | b Zulfiqar Babar | 11 | 54 | 26 | |
| Watling | c Shafiq | b Yasir Shah | 11 | 53 | 43 |
| Craig | c Rahat Ali | b Yasir Shah | 34 | 71 | 53 |
| Southee | c Azhar Ali | b Zulfiqar Babar | 20 | 9 | 5 |
| Sodhi | not out | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| Extras | 0nb 0w 0b 3lb | 3 | |||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
| Rahat Ali | 8.0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| Ehsan Adil | 8.0 | 1 | 33 | 1 | |
| Zulfiqar Babar | 27.5 | 5 | 96 | 4 | |
| Yasir Shah | 21.0 | 1 | 79 | 5 | |
New Zealand were looking to get a hurry-on at the beginning of the day as they aimed to set Pakistan a reasonable target, while also giving themselves enough time to bowl their opposition out and win the match to tie up the three-match series.
Coming into Friday on 167-6 overnight, Taylor continued on 77 and moved the scoreboard along at almost four an over with Mark Craig.
Taylor reached his century in the morning session, a key second-innings knock which put the Kiwis in a competitive position, per the Black Caps:
Soon after Taylor's landmark, both he and Craig fell to the bowling of Yasir Shah.
Tim Southee then came in and hit three successive sixes before being dismissed by Zulfiqar Babar, prompting a declaration from skipper Brendon McCullum at 250-9, for a lead of 260 with 72 overs remaining in the day.
The Kiwis got off to the perfect start in their attempt to bowl Pakistan out as Taufeeq Umar was caught behind by BJ Watling off the bowling of Southee in the second over.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Mins | Balls |
| Masood | lbw | b Boult | 40 | 113 | 95 |
| Taufeeq Umar | c Watling | b Southee | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Azhar Ali | c Neesham | b Craig | 24 | 89 | 74 |
| Younus Khan | c Taylor | b Craig | 44 | 115 | 84 |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | c Watling | b Boult | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| Shafiq | not out | 41 | 129 | 116 | |
| Sarfraz Ahmed | not out | 24 | 38 | 23 | |
| Extras | 1nb 1w 15b 2lb | 19 | |||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
| Boult | 10.0 | 6 | 12 | 2 | |
| Southee | 11.0 | 3 | 21 | 1 | |
| Craig | 17.0 | 3 | 66 | 2 | |
| Sodhi | 21.0 | 5 | 63 | 0 | |
| Anderson | 3.0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| Neesham | 2.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| B McCullum | 3.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
Early wickets were what New Zealand needed but there were to be no more forthcoming with the new ball, as Shan Masood and Azhar Ali dug in with preservation clearly the aim of the game.
The second breakthrough came in the 28th over as Craig dismissed Ali, with Masood then falling two overs later as he was trapped lbw by Trent Boult.
Boult proved to be a galvanising factor as he then succeeded to bowl skipper Misbah-ul-Haq for a duck, drawing the edge behind with a lovely delivery, per the Black Caps:
However, with Pakistan 114-4 at tea, the match still looked to be heading for the draw that would ensure Pakistan could not lose the series.
A huge wicket just after the interval saw Younis Khan dismissed as he edged behind off Craig's bowling, leaving Pakistan 149-5 needing 112 to win the match and the series as the darkness drew in.
However, there were to be no more dismissals and no late drama as, after 67 overs of the Pakistan innings, in which they had reached 196-5, it was handshakes all-round and the match ended in a draw.
New Zealand, therefore, need to win the third and final Test next week in Sharjah to avoid a series defeat, but they should take great confidence from their performance over the last five days.
Slightly more solidity in the batting order will be vital, and while Pakistan will likely be stubborn when they take to the crease as they only need a draw, the Kiwis have enough about them to draw themselves.
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