ABU DHABI – Left-arm pacer Trent Boult helped New Zealand foil Pakistan sadvantage with four wickets as the first Test was evenly poised after daytwo in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Boult s 4-54 derailed the Pakistani batsmen who were bowled out for 227 inresponse New Zealand s first innings total of 153.
He was well supported by debutant spinner Ajaz Patel (2-64) and Colin deGrandhomme (2-30) as Pakistan managed a first innings lead of just 74.
New Zealand then battled to 56-1 when bad light forced umpires to end theday with 4.2 overs still remaining.
The Black Caps still trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining.
Skipper Kane Williamson will hold the key for his team as he walked offwith 27 not out and with him opener Jeet Raval on 26 not out.
The pair has added 56 for the second wicket after Tom Latham was bowled byHasan Ali for nought in the second over, negotiating the spin bowling wellunder cloudy conditions.
New Zealand can take heart from the fact that Pakistan lost a Test at thisvenue last year against Sri Lanka by 21 runs, falling short of a target ofjust 136.
Pakistan squandered a good chance of taking a big lead through some ineptbatting, with only Babar Azam (62), Asad Shafiq (43) and Haris Sohail (38)making significant contributions.
Azam hit five boundaries in his 109-ball knock and was the last man outwhen he edged Boult for wicketkeeper BJ Watling to take a low diving catch.
Pakistan had resumed at 59-2 but lost overnight batsmen Sohail and AzharAli (22) in the space of just six balls at the same score of 91.
Sohail was the more confident of the pair who added 64 for the thirdwicket. He hit four boundaries but was caught at short mid-wicket by Lathamafter a loose shot off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi s low full toss.
Azhar was dropped by Jeet Raval off Boult on 19 and was again lucky tworuns later when given not out as the fast bowler reviewed for a leg-beforedecision.
But Boult had the last laugh, forcing an edge off Azhar s bat for Watling sone-handed diving catch.
In spite of losing those two wickets during the morning session, Pakistanwere well-placed at 144-4 at lunch, seeking a big lead to get a 1-0advantage in the three-match series.
But Boult checked their progress by dismissing Asad Shafiq for 43, bowledoff an inside edge. That was 174-5, the start of a passage that sawPakistan s last six wickets fall for 63 runs.
Patel had Sarfraz Ahmed caught off a miscued sweep for two and Bilal Asifstumped by Watling for 11 while Boult, de Grandhomme and Neil Wagner alsochipped in.
Wagner, playing in his 37th Test, achieved a personal milestone by becomingthe eighth New Zealand bowler to take 150 wickets when he dismissed YasirShah for nine.
Richard Hadlee leads the chart of New Zealand bowlers with 431 wickets in86 Tests.
Others who have 150 or more wickets are Daniel Vettori (361 in 112 Tests),Chris Martin (233 in 71), Tim Southee (220 in 60), Boult (219 in 55), ChrisCairns (218 in 62) and Danny Morrison (160 in 48).
The second Test will be played in Dubai (November 24-28) and the third inAbu Dhabi (December 3-7). – APP/AFP