Twitter Reactions: Pakistan tighten their grip on resilient New Zealand

After getting bowled out for 153, New Zealand showed guts with the ball in the opening Test at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The Black Caps bowled Pakistan out for 227 in their first innings, but couldn’t stop the home team from garnering a lead of 74 runs. By the close of play on the third day, Pakistan would be the happier side as they now need 139 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Nicholls and Watling strain hard

Jeet Raval and Kane Williamson steadied the ship with a half-century stand after Tom Latham’s dismissal of the very first delivery. The duo started in an impressive manner and added 30 more runs. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah cleaned up Williamson, who scored a 91-ball 37, to break the ominous-looking stand. Ross Taylor spanked three fours and became right-arm fast bowler Hasan Ali’s second victim.

The speedster got rid of Raval for 46 in the 39th over. With a lead of 34 and six wickets in hand, the Kiwis needed someone to put his hand up. It was Henry Nicholls and BJ Watling, who brought the visitors back into the match with a stand of 112 runs. Both batters scored half-centuries and helped New Zealand build on their lead. Yasir Shah got rid of Nicholls to break the partnership.

Pakistan- The firm favourites

Colin de Grandhomme was the next man to be dismissed by Shah. To the Black Caps’ agony, Watling became the tweaker’s fourth victim a couple of overs later. The leggie castled Neil Wagner to pick up a stupendous five-wicket haul. Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult couldn’t make any contribution and both were dismissed by Hasan, who also finished with a fifer, much to the pacer’s delight.

New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 249 runs in 100.4 overs. A target of 176 isn’t expected to pose much of a threat to the strong Pakistani batting. Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez opened the batting and they played the eight overs out without any hiccup for 35 runs. Imam has been the aggressor thus far, having scored 25 runs from 23 balls with four gorgeous boundaries.

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