Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st Test: Blacks Caps in deep trouble despite Latham ton

Tom Latham struck his maiden Test century but New Zealand crumbled to 262 all out, conceding a 304-run first-innings lead as well as control of the first Test to Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Left-arm pace bowler Rahat Ali claimed four wickets and spinner Zulfiqar Babar dismissed three New Zealand batsmen on a perfect third day for Pakistan who have dominated all nine sessions of the match but did not enforce follow-on.

Pakistan were 15 for no loss at stumps having stretched their overall lead to 319 runs, although they will be without opener Ahmed Shehzad, who suffered a fractured skull in the first innings, for the rest of the match.

Azhar Ali was unbeaten on nine with Mohammad Hafeez on five as they survived the last half an hour without alarm.

Playing only his fifth Test, Latham added 83 runs with Corey Anderson (48) for the fourth wicket in the lone show of Kiwi top-order resistance at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

BJ Watling (42) and Ish Sodhi (25) dug in lower down but could not make up for the failure of the top and middle order.

Left-arm spinner Babar dealt two body blows in the morning session, removing New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum (18) and Ross Taylor for a duck.

McCullum edged a sharp turning delivery to Younus Khan at slip but stood his ground, unsure if the catch was cleanly taken, but he had to go after TV replays confirmed it had been held.

He was soon joined in the pavilion by Kane Williamson, who blocked a Rahat Ali delivery but could not stop the ball from bouncing back and hitting the stumps.

Like McCullum, Taylor also pushed at a Babar delivery with firm hands and Asad Shafiq collected the edge at gully.

Latham and Anderson arrested the slide with a resolute partnership before the latter chopped a Rahat delivery on to his stumps.

Latham survived a couple of close calls to reach his maiden test century which he brought up driving Babar down the ground for a boundary.

His five-hour vigil was brought to an end by Rahat's inswinging yorker which trapped him in front and New Zealand used the review option but could not get the lbw decision overturned.

Latham's 222-ball knock included 13 boundaries and the 22-year-old displayed fighting spirit that was lacking in some of his team mates.

LUNCH

Pakistan left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar claimed two early wickets as New Zealand staggered to 81-3 at lunch on the third day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Babar (2-37), who took 14 wickets in Pakistan's 2-0 Test-series victory against Australia, had captain Brendon McCullum (18) and Ross Taylor (0) caught close to the wicket after New Zealand resumed on the overnight score of 15-0.

Pakistan amassed 566-3 before declaring its first innings late on the second day and New Zealand still trails by 485 runs.

Tom Latham escaped two close catches and was batting on 42 while Corey Anderson was not out on 13 at the break.

Paceman Rahat Ali was rewarded for a brilliant spell of five maiden overs when Kane Williamson (3) rolled a yorker back onto his stumps.

New Zealand, playing a Test match for the first time on the slow United Arab Emirates wickets, struggled equally against spin and fast bowling as Pakistan allowed only 66 runs in the first session.

McCullum survived two strong lbw appeals against fast bowler Imran Khan before Younis Khan took a fine, low catch when the New Zealand skipper pushed hard at Babar's sharp turning delivery.

In the next over, Williamson managed to dig out Ali's delivery only to see the ball hitting the back of the bat and rolling back onto the stumps.

New Zealand's most experienced batsman, Ross Taylor, recovering from a right calf injury, never looked at ease against Babar before offering a tame catch to Asad Shafiq at close-in gully as New Zealand slipped to 47-3.

Pakistan missed two tough chances in an otherwise dominating first session.

Azhar Ali couldn't take a reflex catch at forward short-leg before Tom Latham had added a run to his overnight 5. Then when Latham was on 32, Sarfraz Ahmed missed a thick edge off Mohammad Hafeez's offspin.

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