(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) New Zealand obviously haven't come to these shores to entertain. They left that to the flag-waving uncle of Pakistani supporters - also known as Chacha - to keep the small number of fans amused at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium while they slowly sucked the life out of their more illustrious opponents with incredible determination.
Pakistani spinner Zulfiqar Babar showed great confidence in his batsmen's ability after the end of second day's play on Tuesday. He had even predicted that his team would get a first innings lead of 200 runs despite losing their two openers and conceding a big first innings total to the Kiwis.
Remarkably, Pakistan were still trailing by 122 runs at stumps on Day Three of the second Test. Their wickets may not have fallen like a pack of cards, but they lost their ace - Younis Khan (72, 160 balls, seven fours, two sixes) - at a crucial moment which hurt their plans to nullify the advantage their rivals enjoyed.
Brendon McCullum's hard-working team took the day three honours as they found a way to stop the likes of Younis and Azhar Ali (75, 225 balls, six fours, one six) from taking the game away. In the end, Pakistan, after resuming at the overnight score of 34 for two, finished the third day at 281 for six. Well, when the day's play began, Pakistan's deficit was massive - 369 runs to be precise. Misbah-ul Haq's team needed to make sure they didn't lose an early wicket in the morning.
Younis and Azhar were cautious at the start, playing the ball on merit as the New Zealand new-ball bowlers - Trent Boult (1/46) and Tim Southee (1/41) - tried hard to get something out of the morning conditions. But the two Pakistanis never gave them a hint of chance as they added just nine runs in the first five overs of the day. Then Younis opened up with a delightful use of the feet and a big swing of the bat to send a Mark Craig delivery over the mid-wicket boundary. It seemed the former Pakistan captain was in the mood to dominate. While Azhar continued to wait for the odd bad ball to get his runs, Younis drove, swept and lofted the spinners with ease as Pakistan took just 13 overs to complete their second 50 after reaching the first in 26 overs.
It was then that New Zealand captain McCullum brought back Southee into the attack to partner Ish Sodhi (2/65). And the two bowlers clipped Younis' wings. The Pakistan great was remarkably pegged back by the two bowlers who were hell-bent on maintaining a tight line.
Younis has made a career out of scoring fighting centuries, but even the best players sometimes falter at crucial moments. When Pakistan needed him to survive that tough phase, he fell to James Neesham's medium pace, playing a lazy shot to Craig at point, ending his 113-run partnership with Azhar. This was a wicket the Kiwis savoured and they knew the hard work of Southee and Sodhi played a big part in dismissing the opposition's best batsman.
Azhar, meanwhile, remained cautious and it was only after his captain Misbah-Ul Haq (28, 55 balls, two fours, one six) joined him in the middle that he showed a rare sign of aggression by hitting Craig for a straight six. His 50-run partnership with Misbah was broken after New Zealand took the new ball in the 83rd over and the Pakistan captain, their other big hope, fell to Boult, giving a simple catch to Ross Taylor at second slip.
After Misbah's dismissal, Azhar retreated into his shell and refused to come out of it even after Asad Shafiq (44, 73 balls, six fours, one six) got off to a promising start. The Kiwis sensed an opportunity and Sodhi, who was never afraid of mixing up his deliveries, had Azhar bowled after the batsman attempted to pull a ball which wasn't short enough.
Shafiq, on the other hand, enjoyed a slice of luck as he was bowled off a no ball by Boult. But the Kiwis had the last laugh when he became the only victim of Southee, so impressive with the ball, in the dying minutes, leaving Sharfaraz Ahmed (28 not out, 47 balls, four fours) and Yasir Shah (1 not out) to face the music.
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