Pakistan’s batsmen continued their relentless run of form as they ran up a total of 566 for three declared on day two of the first Test against New Zealand at Abu Dhabi.
The tourists were left to negotiate seven tricky overs before the close of play, but Brendon McCullum and Tom Latham remained unscathed as they reached 15 without loss.
After starting the day on 269 for one, Pakistan continued to pile on the runs, with Ahmed Shehzad reaching a career-best of 176 before he was dismissed in freak circumstances.
A short ball from Corey Anderson struck the 22-year-old on the helmet, causing the opener to fall on his wicket. It was later revealed that Shehzad had suffered a fractured skull.
Azhar Ali departed shortly after, bowled by a turning delivery from Ish Sodhi, but after he had contributed 87 and the score had reached 373.
The in-form duo of Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq then piled on an unbroken partnership of 193 in quick time before Misbah declared.
All five of Pakistan’s top five scored in excess of 80 for the first time in Test cricket, while it was a fourth ton in five innings for Younus following his outstanding series against Australia, and a third in a row for Misbah.
There were few scares for New Zealand before stumps as they finished 551 runs behind, but the wicket of Azhar showed there is still some life in the pitch of the spinners.
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