Sharjah,30 Nov(PTI) New Zealand paceman Trent Boult took three quick wickets to reduce Pakistan to 30-3 in their second innings today and further strengthen the Black Caps position after they set a new national record score.
The tourists added 53 runs in the morning session before being bowled out for 690 — bettering New Zealand’s previous highest score of 680 made against India in February — to take a 339-run lead on first innings.
Boult then removed batsman Shan Masood, Azhar Ali and Younis Khan in an hour of lively swing bowling on the fourth day.
Earlier, resuming on 637-8, New Zealand frustrated Pakistan further with No. 8 batsman Mark Craig scoring 65 off 85 balls before he was caught and bowled by Mohammad Hafeez.
New Zealand hit a world-record 22 sixes against some listless Pakistan bowling on a flat wicket and scored at a healthy rate of 4.81 an over to press its bid to level the series after losing the first test and drawing the second.
Ish Sodhi (22) also hit a six and a four before he looped a catch to Khan in the slips off a mistimed sweep to give legspinner Yasir Shah (4-193) his fourth wicket of the innings.
Rahat Ali was the pick of the bowlers with 4-99 while Shah conceded most runs for his four wickets. Fast bowler Mohammad Talha and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar had forgetful test match with both conceding 271 runs in between them without taking a wicket.
The deficit of 339 runs took its toll on Pakistan as Boult found a thick outside edge of Masood in his second over and was brilliantly snapped by Tim Southee in the third slip. Azhar Ali misread Boult’s good length delivery, didn’t offer a shot as the ball slanted in and knocked back his off stump.
Boult then dealt a severe blow just before lunch when Khan was out lbw for a golden duck for the first time after eight years before Misbah-ul-Haq survived the hat-trick ball.
