Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail steady after early losses

A stabilising 64-run stand between Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail took Pakistan to 81 for 2 at Tea on the second day of the Test series decider against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi, after losing both openers cheaply on either side of Lunch.

Both Mohammad Hafeez and Imam-ul-Haq's tendency to go fishing outside off-stump cost them their wicket early into Pakistan's first innings, in reply to New Zealand's 274. On both occasions it was Trent Boult who induced an edge and his new-ball partner Tim Southee pulled off a stunning low catch in slip cordon as the hosts lost both their openers with just 17 runs on the board. While Hafeez was dismissed for a four-ball nought, Imam scored nine during his 18-ball stay.

Since then, though, it has been a display of classical Test match batting with Azhar and Sohail dropping anchor to resurrect. The duo saw through the new ball as well as the spin attack from both ends in their unbeaten 64-run partnership for the third wicket.

Azhar, in particular, looked more assured in the middle, timing the ball well and driving effortlessly through the covers for his three boundaries. Sohail was nearly flawless too, barring a cheeky single he wanted to sneak in the 24th over. Refused the run by Azhar, the Pakistan No. 4 beat Kane Williamson's throw at the non-striker's end to survive the half-hearted appeal from New Zealand.

Spin was given a break with less than half an hour to go to Tea, Southee was brought back into the attack, but the visitors failed to crack the gutsy partnership that could hold the key for Pakistan in the final session.

Earlier in the day, it was BJ Watling's fighting half-century that took New Zealand to a respectable total in their first innings. From 229 for 7, it took Pakistan considerably longer than they would have liked to wrap up New Zealand's tail. The overnight batsmen, Watling and William Somerville, looked at ease against the new ball, keeping the home team at bay for the first hour. Watling found a reliable accomplice in skipper Kane Williamson the previous day, and found a similar partner in Somerville, who played out 99 deliveries for 12 before getting dismissed. The pair frustrated the Pakistan bowlers for the first half, taking their eighth-wicket stand to 45 as New Zealand's score went past 250.

However, as was the case on the opening day, Pakistan came back hard at New Zealand on the other side of the drinks break. All the damage was done by Bilal Asif, who picked up right from where he had left off on the first evening. The offspinner struck in only his second over since being brought back into the attack as he ended Somerville's vigil with a delivery that turned in sharply. The batsman was quick to go on his backfoot looking to drill it through the covers but was done in by the spin as the ball breached his defences and crashed into the stumps.

But even as Watling stood firm at one end, Bilal went on take out the other two tail-enders in successive overs - Ajaz Patel and Boult - to complete his second Test fifer and deny New Zealand a shot at 300. Watling finished with an unbeaten 77 off exactly 250 deliveries.

Brief scores: Pakistan 81/2 (Azhar Ali 34*, Haris Sohail 30*; Trent Boult ) trail New Zealand 274 (Kane Williamson 89, BJ Watling 77*; Bilal Asif 5-65, Yasir Shah 3-75) by 274 runs.