Last Update: January 04, 2023, 22:13 IST
Saud Shakeel scored a century against New Zealand (AP Photo)
Shakeel was unbeaten on 124 and Abrar Ahmed was yet to score as New Zealand took four for 70 in the final session, leaving the hosts 42 for 449 in the first innings.
Left-handed batsman Saud Shakeel hit his maiden century on Wednesday before New Zealand restricted Pakistan to 407-9 at the end of the third day of the second Test in Karachi.
Shakeel was unbeaten on 124 and Abrar Ahmed was yet to score after New Zealand took four for 70, leaving the hosts 42 for 449 in the first innings.
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Shakeel batted throughout the day on Wednesday to keep up his finish for 488 minutes and put on 83 for the fourth wicket with Imam-ul-Haq (83) and 150 for the fifth with Sarfaraz Ahmed (78).
But New Zealand spinner Ejaz Patel dismissed Agha Salman (41) and Hasan Ali (four) as Pakistan were reduced from 385-5 to 397-9, losing four wickets for just 12 runs off 27 balls.
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took two wickets in the same number of balls, dismissing Naseem Shah for four and dismissing Mir Hamza without a run, before last man Ahmed saw off the day.
Shakeel, who hit 17 fours, was lucky to get a life off pacer Tim Southee when Tom Latham took a simple catch at short cover when the batsman was on 102.
With wickets falling at the other end, Shakeel went into the shell scoring just 23 runs in the final session.
He brought up his century before tea when he swept spinner Michael Bracewell for four and then took a quick single to reach three figures in 319 minutes of steady batting.
Sarfaraz was stumped for 78 in the final over before the break, scoring his third consecutive half-century of the series.
Shakeel said that he was happy to score a century at his home ground.
“It was also great to have Sarfaraz with me because he gave me confidence when I was in my nineties,” he added.
New Zealand wicket-keeper Tom Blundell believed that the wicket was still good for batting.
“We have to get the last wicket (Thursday) and then, I think, reassess because Pakistan are a good batting side, so maybe a bigger total is needed.”
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Earlier, Haque was caught by Blundell off pacer Southee after Pakistan resumed on 154-3.
Haque rebuilt the innings on 74 overnight, but fell in the second hour of the session after being involved in the run-out of skipper Babar Azam on Tuesday.
He drove towards Blundell, but was given out only after challenging an appeal which was turned down by New Zealand.
Haque hit 10 fours and a six in his innings of 244 minutes.
The two-match series is tied after the first Test in Karachi – ended in a draw.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)