ABU DHABI – Henry Nicholls and Bradley-John Watling defied Pakistan as NewZealand reached 200-4 at tea on the third day of the first Test in AbuDhabi on Sunday.
The fifth wicket stand between Nicholls (51) and Watling (43) has so faryielded 92 runs as New Zealand — conceding a 74-run deficit in the firstinnings — extended their lead to 126 with six wickets standing.
Nicholls has three boundaries in his 133-ball defiance — his sixth Testhalf century — while Watling has knocked four hits to the ropes.
New Zealand hope another 100 runs can help them get a 1-0 lead in thethree-match series.
New Zealand were in danger of losing the Test after three quick wicketsfell in the space of just 22 runs in the first session with medium pacerHasan Ali taking two in the same over.
But Watling survived a leg-before decision on review after umpire BruceOxenford raised his finger off Bilal Asif for 15. Watling took fulladvantage of the reprieve and added 67 in the second session without losinga wicket.
Hasan (3-30) had brought Pakistan back in the game in the first session.
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Hasan, who had opener Tom Latham yesterday, trapped a dangerous lookingTaylor leg-before with a sharp incoming delivery for 19 and then had JeetRaval caught behind by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for 46.
Raval had added 86 for the second wicket with Kane Williamson who made 37.Raval hit five boundaries in his 120-ball knock.
Resuming at 56-1 New Zealand had pinned hopes on their skipper Williamson.But it was Raval who smashed two boundaries and then took a single offMohammad Abbas to take New Zealand into the lead.
But just 12 runs into the lead Williamson was bowled by leg-spinner YasirShah to a ball that beat the batsman s push and removed the bail. – APP/AFP
