Rain delays start of third day of Dubai Test

DUBAI: Morning showers delayed the start of third day of the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Dubai on Monday.

New Zealand were 24-0 at stumps on Sunday, after Haris Sohail’s snail-paced 147 and Babar Azam’s unbeaten 127 steered Pakistan to an imposing 418-5 declared.

The tourists negotiated nine overs without losing a wicket for 24 under lights in overcast conditions before umpires called off the day with two overs remaining.

Opener Jeet Raval was unbeaten on 17 with three boundaries while Tom Latham was five not out.

New Zealand, who lead the series 1-0 after a narrow four-run win in the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week, still trail by 394 runs with all ten wickets intact.

Sohail improved on his previous best of 110 scored against Australia at the same venue last month while Azam passed his previous best of 99, against Australia in Abu Dhabi last month.

He added an invaluable 186 runs for the fifth wicket with Azam as the two frustrated the New Zealand´s attack in the first two sessions.

The Pakistani batsmen added 82 between lunch and tea, scoring faster than in any of the previous sessions.
Pakistan post big total after Haris, Babar notch hundreds

Sohail took 309 balls to reach three figures and then waved his bat toward the dressing room, apparently pointing to his team-mate Azhar Ali, run out after a mix-up with Sohail on Saturday.

He was finally dismissed soon after tea, caught behind off paceman Trent Boult. In all he faced 421 balls and hit 13 boundaries.

Azam ably supported Sohail and hit 12 boundaries and two sixes. He added 58 for the sixth wicket with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed who made 30 not out.