Pakistan cantered to a huge total riding in hundreds from Babar Azam and Haris Sohail as they racked up 418 runs on the board and lead New Zealand by 394 runs at the end of the day’s play on Sunday in Dubai.
Resuming proceedings at 207/4 , Sohail and Azam got together to stitch 186 runs for the fifth wicket as the duo lifted Pakistan out of trouble as the New Zealand bowlers toiled all day. None of the bowlers could find the sting they had on the first day.
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The only one to find success was Trent Boult who struck back for New Zealand with the wicket of the long-standing Sohail.
But Azam continued with his knock as he joined skipper Sarfraz Ahmed to add 58 more runs to the total to pile more misery on the visitors.
But New Zealand came up with a strong reply as their openers Jeet Raval and Tom Latham passed the initial phase of their innings with 24 runs to end the day. Despite Ahmed using all five of his bowlers, none could find success in the form an early breakthrough as the hosts would have liked.
The Kiwis would want to keep moving forward in the same vein on the third day as it would take a huge effort from their batsmen to just end up close to the massive Pakistani total.