• Kane Williamson of New Zealand bats during the opening day of the third Test match in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Kane Williamson of New Zealand bats during the opening day of the third Test match in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Kane Williamson, right, and BJ Watling of New Zealand shared a 104-run stand for the fifth wicket.
    Kane Williamson, right, and BJ Watling of New Zealand shared a 104-run stand for the fifth wicket.
  • New Zealand captain Kane Williamson bats during the game at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
    New Zealand captain Kane Williamson bats during the game at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
  • Kane Wiliammson top-scored for New Zealand with 89 before he was dismissed by Pakistan's Hassan Ali.
    Kane Wiliammson top-scored for New Zealand with 89 before he was dismissed by Pakistan's Hassan Ali.
  • BJ Watling finished with an unbeaten 42 after New Zealand were reduced to 73-4 at lunch.
    BJ Watling finished with an unbeaten 42 after New Zealand were reduced to 73-4 at lunch.
  • Shaheen Afridi makes his Test debut for Pakistan.
    Shaheen Afridi makes his Test debut for Pakistan.
  • Shaheen Afridi celebrates his first Test wicket after dismissing New Zealand's Tom Latham lbw.
    Shaheen Afridi celebrates his first Test wicket after dismissing New Zealand's Tom Latham lbw.
  • Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Tom Latham.
    Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Tom Latham.
  • Yasir Shah of Pakistan bowls during the game.
    Yasir Shah of Pakistan bowls during the game.
  • Pakistan's Yasir Shah celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Jeet Raval during the opening day of the third Test match in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Pakistan's Yasir Shah celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Jeet Raval during the opening day of the third Test match in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Yasir Shah made to wait for 200th Test wicket as New Zealand struggle against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi


Amith Passela
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Score

Third Test, Day 1

New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat

New Zealand, who won the toss and opted to bat, reached 229-7 at the close of the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Black Caps captain Kane Williamson scored 89 while BJ Watling finished with an unbeaten 42 after New Zealand were reduced to 73-4 at lunch.

Debutant Will Somerville was the other not out batsman on 12.

Yasir Shah and Bilal Ashraf took five wickets between them at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. Yasir bagged three wickets in the space of 14 deliveries before lunch and Bilal picked up two in seven balls in the final session.

Shaheen Afridi, making his Test debut, did not have to wait long for his first Test scalp. The 18-year-old left arm quick trapped Tom Latham in front on the fourth ball of his third over.

Yasir then grabbed two wickets in two deliveries, and picked up his third two overs later as the visitors lost three wickets for two runs shortly before lunch.

The Pakistan leg-spinner had Jeet Raval (45) lbw with the New Zealand opener reviewing unsuccessfully.

Ross Taylor fell on the very next first ball to a quick and straight delivery that crashed on to the middle stump. Henry Nicholls was bowled around his legs for Yasir’s third.

Pakistan went wicket-less in the second session before Bilal’s strike mid-way through the final session put them back in the driver’s seat.

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The off-spinner had Colin de Grandhomme caught by Asad Shafiq at leg slip and Tim Southee held by Babar Azam at short fine leg.

Williamson top-scored for the Black Caps having arrived at the crease after the fall of the first wicket at 24 in the sixth over.

He departed in the 62nd over to a catch at short mid-wicket off paceman Hasan Ali having batted for almost four hours. His 176-ball 89 was highlighted by seven fours.

Williamson shared a 104-run stand for the fifth wicket with Watling after Yasir had claimed his three wickets. Yasir, who has figures of 3-26, needs another two wickets to complete 200 wickets and claim the record in his 33rd Test.

Off-spinner Bilal took 2-57.

Score

Third Test, Day 1

New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat