ABU DHABI – Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq fought hard for Pakistan, but NewZealand held on to steal a four-run win in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.

Patel, the left-arm spinner, took five wickets including the final scalp ofa resolute Ali to take New Zealand over the line by four runs.

It would be an understatement to say the Test was a cliffhanger, Pakistanlosing four wickets after lunch in a manic period of play to slip from147/4 to 155/8, which became 164/9 not long after. Ali and Mohammad Abbasthen added 16 runs to get within one hit of sealing victory, but Patelstruck the decisive blow, trapping Ali for 65.

Either side of a sublime 82-run stand between Ali and Shafiq, Pakistan lostwickets in a heap, Patel, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and pacer Neil Wagner doingmost of the damage.

Pakistan began the day at 37 for no loss, but in no time were reduced to48/3. The dangerous Imam-ul-Haq was the first to fall, pinned in front for27 when Patel got one to spin in sharply.