Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 3 at Abu Dhabi - As it Happened

Younus got out cheaply too but Hafeez went onto score his century after 21 Test innings. That's some record for him. The Kiwis have little more than four and a half sessions to play out to save this one. It looks tough for now. They did that against India recently at home but these are different conditions. Pakistan is red hot in form and it is going to be something very magical if they save this one from here.

13th hundred for a Pakistan batsman in 3 Tests. What a stat! The bandwagon continues for Pakistan as they have set a target of 480 for the Kiwis. The runs keep flowing for one team! Pakistan without Shehzad got a good start with both Hafeez and Azhar playing well. Ali fell early but Hafeez played really well timing the ball to perfection.

CENTURY! 6th Test ton for Mohammad Hafeez! Shorter outside off, Hafeez pushes it through the covers for a couple of runs. He is elated and raises his bat to the pavilion. He sits and takes blessings of the pitch. And that's that, PAKISTAN HAVE DECLARED FOR 175/2!

The field is coming in now.

Flatter on off, pushed to covers for a single by Ahmed.

Full toss outside off, Hafeez mistimes his bunt through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. He moves onto 99!

SIX! What nervous nineties? Fuller on off, Hafeez slinks down the wicket and tonks it over the long on fence for a maximum. Just 3 away from a ton and a declaration from Pakistan!

Flatter outside off, Ahmed slaps it through extra cover for a single.

Hafeez cuts it through covers for a single.

Darted on middle, Hafeez works it towards the on side.

Fuller on off, Hafeez comes forward and pushes it towards the off side.

Fuller on middle, Hafeez comes down and almost picks out mid-wicket but the ball goes over him for a single.

Full toss outside off, Ahmed gets under it and swings it towards wide long on for a single.

Fuller on off, Hafeez just sweeps it cleanly through square leg for a single.

Flatter on the pads, nudged to short fine leg for a single.

Fuller on off, Ahmed leans forward and turns it to mid on.

Shorter on off, comes in, Hafeez is cramped for room but he goes back and cuts it through covers for a single.

FOUR! Shot! Fuller on the pads, Ahmed sits low and sweeps it through the long leg region for a boundary. The runs keep flowing!

Makes room, comes down the wicket and dabs it to covers for a single.

Tossed up on off, Hafeez almost yorks himself but digs it out in time.

Ahmed turns it towards the on side for a single.

Hafeez waits and carves it through third man for a single.

Shorter outside off, Ahmed sits down and pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Shorter outside off, Hafeez looks to dab it down opening the face of the bat but misses.

Shortish outside off, Sarfraz pushes it towards point for a single.

Flatter on the pads, nudged to mid-wicket for a single.

Shorter outside off, Hafeez makes room and dabs it late past the keeper for a couple.

FOUR! Hafeez moves along! Full outside off, Hafeez slinks down the wicket and drives it through wide mid off. The fielder dives over the ball and allows it through for a boundary.

Shorter outside off, cut to deep point for a single.

Flatter on the pads, worked through mid-wicket for a single by Ahmed to get off the mark.

Shorter on middle and leg, Ahmed makes room to pull it but misses it. That was asking to be hit!

Shorter outside off, Ahmed cuts it to point where the fielder puts in a good dive to stop the ball.

Fuller on off, Ahmed sweeps it to the on side but not in the gap.

Sarfraz Ahmed is the new man in.

OUT! Trapped in front! Flatter on middle, Khan looks to sweep but fails to put bat to ball. The ball hits him on the pads and the players appeal. The umpire upholds the appeal. Khan has a chat with Hafeez and goes for the review. The replays shows he is a bit down the wicket but he is hit in front of the stumps. The impact was umpire's call and the ball was clipping the stumps so Khan has to go. Good strike for the Kiwis.

Khan reviews as he is given out LBW.

Fuller on off, pushed towards the off side for a single.

Sodhi to bowl from the other end.

Khan works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller on off, swept to long leg for a single.

Fuller outside off, Khan drags it through mid-wicket for a single.

Flighted outside off, Hafeez drives it through covers for a single.

FOUR BYES! Fullish outside off, Hafeez tries to play the reverse sweep but misses it completely. The keeper fails to collect it as well and the ball races to the fence.

FOUR! Starts off with a boundary! Outside off, Hafeez stays back and steers it to the third man region and gets a boundary.

We're back for the second session of play. Mark Craig to bowl, Mohammad Hafeez to face.

Day 4, Second session...

113 runs, 1 wicket - Session Pakistan! The hosts continue to dominate the game and with the lead of 431 runs, the game is all set up for them. Hafeez kept scoring to get to his fifty and is looking good for a big one here. Ali got out missing out on his fifty but Khan has done well and is looking good as well. They might have a hit for some overs and then declare, the deck is starting to act up and the Pakistan spinners are not going to mind this at all. Expect a declaration soon after the break. The Kiwis are going to have a tough task to save this one from here. Let's see how things pan out. Do join us in a while for the second session of play.

NOT OUT! Good review from Khan! Flatter on off, Khan is struck on his pads as he looks to work it off his back foot. The players appeal and the umpire says yes. Khan goes for the review. The replays shows that he smashed the ball into the pads. So that should mean that the decision will be reversed. Khan survives the run out scare as well as they attempted the run but Khan dived back into his crease. That's LUNCH, Day 4!

Khan reviews as he is given out LBW.

Another rock solid defense from Khan coming forward.

Tossed up on middle, Khan keeps it out.

Shorter on off, Khan plays it back to the bowler.

Fuller on off, Khan comes forward and defends it.

Khan gets in line and defends this one.

Sodhi comes on to bowl the final over before Lunch.

Shorter outside off, Hafeez cuts it to short third man but not in the gap.

Landed on off, Hafeez dabs it towards the off side.

On the pads, Hafeez looks to work it through but misses.

Shorter outside off, Hafeez looks to reverse sweep it but misses.

Full outside off, swept to square leg for a single.

Fuller on off, Khan defends it.

Fullish on off, driven to covers for a single.

Khan gets across and nudges it through the on side for a couple.

Fuller outside off, Khan drives it through the off side for a boundary but only in his mind as he misses this one.

Shorter outside off, pushed through covers for a single.

FOUR! Top shot! Shorter outside off, Hafeez gets under it and pummels it over mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Shorter on middle, Khan works it through the mid-wicket region for a single.

SIX! TONK! Fuller on off, Hafeez gets under it and launches it over long on fence for a maximum. This is strange, just before the break.

FOUR! Fuller outside off, driven through covers for a boundary. The timing was too good from Hafeez!

Yorker on off, Hafeez keeps it out.

Good length on off, pushed to the off side.

Length on off, Hafeez defends it back down the wicket.

Shorter on the body, Hafeez pulls it down to fine leg for a couple.

Landed outside off, driven through the off side for a couple of runs.

Floated on off, Khan comes forward and defends it.

Khan drives one through the off side.

FOUR! Shot! Khan sweeps one through the square leg region for a boundary.

Floated on off, Khan comes forward and defends it towards the off side.

Fuller outside off, Khan drives it to covers off the crease.

Mark Craig brought back into the attack.

Good length on off, Hafeez pushes it towards covers.

On a length on off, Hafeez defends it back down the wicket.

Good length on off, tucked towards the on side off the crease.

Fuller on off, Hafeez pushes it down towards mid on off the crease.

Fuller on the pads, tucked through the on side for a single.

Fuller on the pads, Younus clips it through the long leg region for a couple.

Tim Southee back on for a spell.

Fuller on off, pushed towards the off side.

Floated on middle, sweeps it through the on side for a single.

Full outside off, Khan carves it through covers but not in the gap.

Fuller on off, Hafeez drives it in the air towards mid on for a single.

Flatter on middle, worked through the on side for a single.

Full toss outside off, pushed through mid off for a single.

Good length on off, tucked to the on side for a run.

Good length on the pads, tucked through the on side for a leg bye.

Khan pushes it through the off side again.

Fuller outside off, Khan pushes it to the off side.

Pitched up outside off, Khan drives it towards the off side.

Fuller outside off, Khan drives it through the off side.

Hafeez is on the ground, he seems to be struggling with cramps.

Khan drives one through the mid off region for a single.

Shorter on off, pushed through off side for a single.

11th Test fifty for Mohammad Hafeez.

FOUR! Back to back fifties! Shorter outside off, Hafeez goes back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. That is his 2nd fifty of the game! Also FIRST time that he has scored back to back fifties.

Hafeez comes forward and turns it towards the on side.

Floated outside off, turns away, Hafeez drives and misses.

Shorter outside off, pushed through point for a single.

Another length ball on off, defended off the crease by Hafeez.

Good length outside off, Hafeez stands tall and defends it.

Good length on off, Khan works it to mid-wicket for a quick single.

There is a delay as Khan had popped off the field to release some pressure it seems. He's back all smiling so that explains it!

NOT OUT! Close call! Good length outside off, Khan gets outside a bit and defends it. The players appeal but the umpire says no. They discuss for the review, Williamson the stand-in captain calls for the review. McCullum is not on the field. The replay shows that there was no bat involved and he is also a good way down the wicket. The third umpire reckons there might be an inside edge for some reason and hence he gives it not out.

New Zealand review as Khan is given not out for a LBW appeal.

Full outside off, Khan drives it to mid off in his own way.

Fuller on off, Khan gets across and defends it.

Tossed up outside off, Hafeez looks to drive it through the off side but misses.

Fuller outside off, driven through covers.

Shorter on middle, worked through mid-wicket for a single.

Turns it through the on side for a single.

Fuller outside off, Khan pushes it through covers for a single.

FOUR! Shot! Full toss outside off, Younus just get under it and drives it through covers for a boundary.

Hafeez comes forward and defends it.

Good length on off, Hafeez stands tall and defends it towards covers.

Hafeez gets in line and defends it.

Fuller outside off, pushed through covers by Hafeez coming forward.

Good length outside off, left alone by Hafeez.

Fuller outside off, Hafeez keeps it out.

Floated outside off, Hafeez drives it loosely and in the air towards short third man where Craig does the fielding. They take a run.

Shorter on off, Hafeez defends it.

Sodhi spots Hafeez coming down the wicket and fires it flat on the stumps. Hafeez can only pat it back.

Shorter outside off, Hafeez lets it go through.

Shorter on off, Khan works it towards mid-wicket off his crease for a single.

Fuller outside off, Khan drives it through covers but not in complete control.

Yorker length ball, Hafeez digs it out straight back.

Over-pitched around off, Hafeez works it to mid on.

Fuller around off, Hafeez drives it through the cover region.

Good length ball angled across, Hafeez defends it off the front foot.

FOUR! Edged away! Fuller around off, Hafeez looks to defend but gets an outside edge through the slip region for a boundary. No one in the slip region!

Full and angled in from round the wicket, Hafeez blocks it off the front foot.

Khan comes forward and defends it.

Floated on middle, Khan comes forward and defends it.

Drinks!

Younus Khan comes out to bat.

OUT! Azhar departs! Floated on the stumps, Ali looks to sweep it but is hit plumb in front of the stumps. The players appeal and the umpire upholds the appeal. Azhar does not want to review it since he knows he is out there and does not waste any time and prods off. That is a good wicket for Sodhi! Pakistan will not mind this wicket as they are just going to look to score quickly.

Floated outside off, Ali looks to drive but misses.

Cuts this one through the third man region for a triple.

Shorter outside off, pushed through the off side for a single by Ali.

Fuller outside off, another leave.

On a length outside off, Hafeez comes forward and defends it.

Good length outside off, pushed toward the off side.

Hafeez nudges it wide of mid-wicket for a couple.

Slower fuller ball on middle, clipped through mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller outside off, Ali drops it to covers for a single.

Corey Anderson is back on for a spell.

Loopy on off, Hafeez comes forward and defends it.

Fuller on off, played back to the bowler by Hafeez. The ball hits the timber at the other end but the bowler did not get a hand to it.

Fuller on off, Hafeez comes forward and pushes it to covers.

Floated on off, Ali drives it through the covers for a single.

Tossed up on middle, Ali comes forward and defends it.

Fuller outside off, pushed towards covers by Ali.

Back of a length outside off, Ali rides the bounce and taps it towards covers for a single.

Good length outside off, Hafeez cuts it through the off side for a single.

Good length outside off, Hafeez raises his arms and gets out of the way in time.

Fuller outside off, left alone by Hafeez.

Fuller in length on middle, going down, Hafeez looks to clip it but misses and almost falls over. The ball strikes him high on the pads. The bowler appeals but the umpire says no and rightly so, that was going down leg.

Fuller outside off, left alone outside off.

Tossed up outside off, Hafeez looks to drive but gets it off the outer half of the bat for a single.

Hafeez charges down the wicket and just plays it back to the bowler.

Floated outside off, Hafeez comes forward to drive but is beaten all ends up. Watling takes the bails off and appeals but the square leg umpire is not interested. The replays show that he was right since Hafeez never left the crease.

FOUR! Inside out! Full toss again on middle, Hafeez slinks down the wicket and drives it through extra cover for a boundary.

Fuller on off, Hafeez drives it to mid off and looks for a single. Ali responds but HAfeez sends him back late. The throw comes in from Boult but he misses the stumps.

FOUR! Typical Sodhi start! Sodhi dishes out a full toss outside off, Hafeez just leans forward and drives it through covers for a boundary.

Ish Sodhi into the attack for the first time today.

Fullish outside off, Ali lets it go through.

Shorter outside off, Hafeez pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Good length outside off, left alone by Hafeez.

Another short delivery down the leg side, Hafeez lets it go past him.

Fuller on off, Ali clips it on one leg toawds mid on for a single.

Fullish outside off, Ali comes forward and defends it.

Another leave outside off.

WIDE! Bouncer! Shorter again outside off, Hafeez lets it go over him. The umpire signals it a wide.

Shorter outside off, carved past point for a couple.

Spears in the yorker on off, Hafeez digs it out in time.

Bouncer, slower pace, Hafeez lets it go over him as the ball almost loops over him. The umpire signals it one for the over.

Tucks one through mid-wicket region for a single.

Good length on middle, Hafeez drops it to mid off and takes off McCullum for a quick single. The throw comes in from Baz, but he is misses his shy at the stumps at the non-striker's end.

FOUR! BEAUTIFUL! Fullish length outside off, Hafeez comes forward and just pushes it wide of covers. The ball is timed supremely and it races away to the boundary ropes.

Fuller on off, Hafeez just leans and clips it wide of mid-wicket for a run.

Fuller outside off, left alone by Hafeez pressing forward.

Shorter outside off, Hafeez ducks and lets it go over him.

Good length ball outside off, Hafeez tucks it to the on side.

Fuller on off, Ali leans across and clips it through the mid-wicket region for a triple.

Length outside off, Ali pushes it through covers for a couple of runs.

On a length outside off, left alone by Hafeez.

Lovely, Hafeez is driving all right! Full outside off, Hafeez presses forward and creams it to the left of mid off where McCullum dives and stops the ball.

Fuller outside off, Hafeez mistimes his drive towards mid off.

Fullish on off, Hafeez looks to drive it through covers but edges it onto his pads.

FOUR! Deft! On a length outside off, Hafeez waits for it and dabs it off the edge past gully for a boundary to the third man fence.

Good length outside off, pushed through the off side by Hafeez.

Fuller outside off, driven through covers for a single.

Shorter on middle, Hafeez ducks under it.

Fuller on off, played through the mid off region for a couple.

Good length outside off, left alone outside off.

Shorter length outside off, the ball takes off and bounces over Hafeez and the keeper. They take a couple of byes.

Fuller on off, Hafeez plays it back down the wicket.

Fuller outside off, pushed towards covers by Ali pressing forward.

Good length outside off, Azhar punches it towards mid on off his crease.

Good length outside off, Hafeez punches it through the off side for a run.

Fullish outside off, Hafeez carts it towards covers but does not find the gap.

FOUR! Nicely done! Shorter outside off, Hafeez stands tall and crashes it through the point region for a boundary.

Fuller outside off, left alone by Hafeez.

On the pads, Ali gets across and nudges it towards mid-wicket.

Another short ball, this time to Ali, who ducks under it.

Shorter on middle, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.

Shorter on middle, Hafeez lets it go over him.

On a length outside off, Hafeez presses forward and defends it.

Fuller on off, Hafeez gets in line and defends it.

Tim Southee to bowl from the other end.

Slanted across on a fuller length, left alone by Ali.

Fuller on middle, Ali leans forward and defends it carefully.

Fuller outside off, Ali lets it go through watchfully.

Fullish on middle, clipped towards mid-wicket but not for any runs.

On a length on off, Ali stands tall and defends it.

Fuller outside off, left alone by Ali.

The players are making their way to the middle. Azhar Ali to face Trent Boult with Mohammad Hafeez at the other end.

Hello and welcome to Day 4 of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand. Pakistan are in a dominating position here and will like to win their third consecutive Test by winning this one. They have a healthy lead of 319 runs and will be hoping to score some quick runs before they declare. The question here is how long will they bat? The Kiwis will look to take wickets at regular intervals along with keeping the run flow in check. If they hope to save this Test they will have to depend on their batsmen. They will need to show some patience and bat long.

DAY 4, SESSION 1...

Hope that you have had a great time today and anticipating to find you back tomorrow at 0600 GMT (1130 IST) for all the action from Day 4. Until then, Adios! Take Care!

In reply, Hafeez and Azhar have seen off the nervy moments and overall, the lead is now worth 319. Guess tomorrow it will be a watchful first hour followed by some bang-bang bash-bash with a declaration around Tea. By that time the lead will probably cross 500. The bowlers will then have 4 sessions to pick up 10 wickets in around, say, 120 overs. Looks like the sun might have set on New Zealand.

That ends another good day for Pakistan. They have been having plenty of these in the last few days. The bowlers stuck to their task again, restricting New Zealand to 262, gaining a 304-run lead. Pakistan did not enforce the follow-on, understandably thinking about their bowlers' fitness what with 3 Tests in this series and a long calendar ahead.

A short ball on middle and leg, Azhar Ali clips that one past square leg and the batsmen come back for the third. STUMPS ON DAY 3!

Tossed up outside off, the batsman does not play at it.

Full on middle and off, Azhar digs it out to the bowler.

This is the slider outside off, goes straight on after pitching, Azhar watches and lets it go.

Another short ball outside off, slightly turning away, left alone.

Starts off with a short ball outside off, Hafeez goes back and punches this through the covers for a single.

ISH SODHI then, to bowl the final over of the day.

Scoring opportunity missed. Banged in short down the leg side, Ali misses his tuck and the ball goes off his pads to the keeper behind.

Wide outside off, left alone.

Full and on the pads, Ali leans and nicely picks this through mid-wicket for a couple.

Landed outside off, angled away, left alone.

NOT OUT. Pitched outside leg. End of story. On a good length, Azhar missed his back foot tuck and was hit on the pads. Boult and co. appealed and one would like to know who insisted on the review for it pitched a good few centimetres outside leg. Unless the Kiwis just want this to be the final over of the day.

Review time. An LBW appeal against Azhar, not given, a desperate New Zealand go for the review.

Full and outside off, pushed towards point.

The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Wide outside off, left alone.

Bouncer! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment.

Full and just outside off, pushed towards point for a single.

Outside off, left alone.

Full and outside off, watchfully defended.

The umpires are checking the shape of the ball. It seems to have gone slightly out of shape. And it is changed...

FOUR! That is a fine shot! Slightly short in length outside off, Hafeez stays back and steers it behind point for a boundary!

Full and down the leg side, Ali misses his flick and is hit on the pads. A leg bye taken.

Good length delivery, watchfully defended.

On a good length, angling away, let through to the keeper. Ross Taylor at slip indicates that he cannot see the ball. Can the batsmen see?

Outside off, left alone.

A bouncer on middle, Ali ducks.

On middle and off, Hafeez stays on the back foot and defends.

Full and just outside off, Hafeez defends it back to the bowler.

On a good length on middle, Hafeez flicks it towards short mid-wicket where Tom Latham dives to make a good stop.

This is wider outside off, no control on swing, left alone.

Full and down the leg side, Ali flicks this neatly through mid-wicket. The batsmen take three for the first runs for Pakistan in this innings.

That is a beauty, on a good length outside off, Ali looks to defend but is beaten.

Tim Southee to bowl from the other end.

Fuller from round the wicket and sliding away, Hafeez goes for the drive but gets beaten.

Hafeez lets the ball go outside his off stump.

Full and wide outside off, Hafeez lets it go to the keeper.

Full again around off, Hafeez drives it to mid off this time.

Full and coming in, Hafeez plays it to mid on.

Yorker! What a way to start. Hafeez digs it out on time.