Pakistan's Saud Shakeel plays a shot on his way to an unbeaten century against New Zealand
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Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2nd Test Day 3: Pakistan close the gap with Shakeel century
A Saud Shakeel maiden century was enough to lift Pakistan to 407/9 at the end of play on Day 3 of the second Test against New Zealand.
Match Summary
Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, New Zealand tour of Pakistan
Pakistan *407/9 (132 ov)
New Zealand 449/10 (131 ov)
Day Break: Day 3 Pakistan trail by 42 runs.
Shakeel was unbeaten on 124 and Abrar Ahmed yet to score after New Zealand took four wickets in the final session for 70 runs, leaving the hosts 42 runs shy of the tourists' first innings total of 449.
Shakeel has kept his end intact for 488 minutes -- batting all day Wednesday, and adding 83 for the fourth wicket with Imam-ul-Haq (83) and 150 for the fifth with Sarfaraz Ahmed (78).
But New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel dismissed Agha Salman (41) and Hasan Ali (four) as Pakistan slumped from 385-5 to 397-9, losing four wickets for just 12 runs off 27 balls.
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took two wickets in as many balls, dismissing Naseem Shah for four and and Mir Hamza without scoring before last-man Ahmed saw out the day.
Shakeel, who has hit 17 boundaries, was lucky to get a life off pacer Tim Southee when Tom Latham grassed a simple catch at short cover when the batter was on 102.
With wickets falling at the other end, Shakeel went into a shell, scoring just 23 runs in the final session.
He completed his century before tea when he swept spinner Michael Bracewell for a boundary and then took a sharp single to reach three figures in 319 minutes of stoic batting.
Sarfaraz was stumped on 78 in the penultimate over before the break, having scored his third consecutive half-century of the series.
Earlier, Haq was snapped-up by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell off fast-bowler Southee after Pakistan resumed on 154-3.
On 74 overnight, Haq rebuilt the innings after being involved in skipper Babar Azam's run-out on Tuesday, but fell in the second hour of the session.
He edged a drive to Blundell, but was only given out after New Zealand challenged the turned-down appeal.
Haq hit 10 boundaries and a six in his 244-minute knock.
The two-match series is tied after the first Test -- also in Karachi -- ended in a draw.
Match Stats
New Zealand 1st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-134 (Tom Latham - 35.1 ov), 2-234 (Devon Conway - 62.2 ov), 3-240 (Kane Williamson - 63.5 ov), 4-255 (Daryl Mitchell - 68.5 ov), 5-278 (Henry Nicholls - 78.6 ov), 6-279 (Michael Bracewell - 79.3 ov), 7-309 (Ish Sodhi - 91.4 ov), 8-340 (Tom Blundell - 104.1 ov), 9-345 (Tim Southee - 106.1 ov), 10-449 (Ajaz Patel - 130.6 ov)
Pakistan 1ST Innings Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Abdullah Shafique - 7.5 ov), 2-56 (Shan Masood - 10.6 ov), 3-97 (Babar Azam - 24.2 ov)
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (C), Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel
Match Details
Date: Monday, January 2, 2023 05:00
Venue: Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan
Toss: New Zealand won the toss & elected to bat
Officials Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) Alex Wharf (England) Ahsan Raza (Pakistan TV)
Match Referee: David Boon (Australia)
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