With the balance of the game now firmly tipped in Pakistan’s favor, New Zealand have a huge task on their hands as Pakistan lead by 319 with all their wickets in hand – though Ahmed Shehzad will not take any further part in this Test match and the remaining matches of the series on account of his injury. Pakistan, for their part, will seek to score as many runs as they can before they inevitably declare their innings and they will certainly be looking to be at least 500 ahead before New Zealand are asked to bat again.

By Tanzeel ur Rehman (11th November, 2014)

Even before a ball was bowled on day 3, New Zealand already had their back to the walls, staring down Pakistan’s mammoth total of 566-3 declared and given how Pakistan’s bowlers had performed in the UAE in recent times, they had their work cut out for them.

They began the day in a decidedly circumspect manner, with openers McCullum and Latham taking their time at the crease without taking too many chances or trying to force the pace. They added 18 in 10.1 overs, before three wickets fell for 14 in the space of four overs. 

McCullum was the first to go, as he outside edged a straighter delivery by Zulfiqar Babar to Younis Khan at first slip. An over later, all the pressure that Rahat Ali had built up over the day, as he bowled maiden after maiden – at one point, 7 of his 8 overs were maidens – paid off as Kane Williamson failed to keep the ball from rolling onto his stumps as he attempted to negotiate a yorker from Rahat Ali. Ross Taylor, the next man in, didn’t bother the scorers as he departed without scoring in the 22nd over as he edged a turning Zulfiqar Babar delivery to Asad Shafiq at Gully.

Corey Anderson, who replaced Taylor at the crease, went about rebuilding New Zealand’s innings with opener Tom Latham, who had quietly managed to survive as wickets fell around him. The two put on an aggressive 83, in just over 20 overs, before Anderson dragged a Rahat Ali delivery, that was not quite wide enough to cut, on to his stumps while attempting to cut it. Jimmy Neesham, who had been one of New Zealand’s finds of the year, added 20 runs with Latham before a lapse in concentration resulted in him being stumped as he charged blindly at Mohammad Hafeez. 

Latham reached his century in the 70th over of the innings, having batted 212 deliveries to reach the milestone. His innings provided some solidity to an otherwise ordinary effort by New Zealand where wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. His resistance came to an end soon after he reached 100 as a reverse swinging yorker by Rahat Ali had him trapped in front of the stumps. This was the first of another cluster of three wickets that fell rapidly, as Mark Craig was run out in the next over while taking a risky third run and Tim Southee was caught behind off Rahat Ali in the next over without bothering the scorer.

Sodhi and BJ Watling once again set about to reconstruct the innings, adding 43 for the 9th wicket before Sodhi misjudged a googly by his opposite number, Yasir Shah, and was out bowled. The 10th wicket fell without any further addition to New Zealand’s score of 262. Rahat Ali, by far Pakistan’s best bowler of the day, picked up four wickets for 22 runs off 17 overs, at a miserly economy rate of 1.3, ably supported by Zulfiqar Babar, who picked up three.

Having dismissed New Zealand 304 runs behind, Pakistan chose not to enforce the follow on and, for the second successive Test, Azhar Ali walked out to open Pakistan’s second innings of the game in place of the injured Ahmad Shehzad after he had done so, with the game poised similarly, against Australia in Dubai when Mohammad Hafeez was injured. The two played out the remaining 6 overs in the day peacefully, taking just 15 runs off them with one boundary.

With the balance of the game now firmly tipped in Pakistan’s favor, New Zealand have a huge task on their hands as Pakistan lead by 319 with all their wickets in hand – though Ahmed Shehzad will not take any further part in this Test match and the remaining matches of the series on account of his injury. Pakistan, for their part, will seek to score as many runs as they can before they inevitably declare their innings and they will certainly be looking to be at least 500 ahead before New Zealand are asked to bat again.

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