Friday 21 November 2014 15:08, UK
Pakistan preserved their 1-0 series lead over New Zealand after the second Test in Dubai ended in a draw.
The 'home' side was set a target of 261 for victory off 72 overs but came up 65 runs short after being slowed by the loss of four early wickets.
New Zealand started the final day on 167-6 with Ross Taylor quickly on the front foot as he looked for quick runs to take him to a century.
He reached three figures off 129 balls but, after losing partner Mark Craig for 34, became the second victim of a Yasir Shah over when he was stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed for 104 - Taylor's wicket gave Shah his first five-wicket Test haul.
Tim Southee smashed three sixes in an explosive five-ball 20 but, after he was dismissed by Zulfiqur Babar (4-96), Brendon McCullum declared to set up a potentially-thrilling final two sessions with all results still possible.
Pakistan's effort began badly with Southee getting Taufeeq Umar (4) to edge a seaming delivery to BJ Watling with only eight runs on the board.
Azhar Ali joined Shan Masood in a 62-run stand for the second wicket but they were both part of a mini-collapse that saw Pakistan fall from 70-1 to 75-4, Trent Boult grabbing two of the wickets including captain Misbah-ul-Haq for a fifth-ball duck.
Pakistan needed 130 from the last 20 overs but they never looked like keeping up the tempo thanks to some fine bowling by Boult and Southee, who conceded only 33 runs in their combined 21 overs.
Hopes of an unlikely victory were dashed when Craig dismissed Younis Khan for 44, and although Asad Shafig reached 41 and Ahmed added a perky 24 off 23 balls, the draw was all but assured when bad light brought an end to play five overs before the scheduled close.
"Credit to New Zealand," said Misbah-ul-Haq. "They showed a lot of improvement after the first game.
"I'm a little bit disappointed because had we taken our chances we could have had a better result.
"We had planned the chase, to bat normally in the first 40 overs and then step up, but we lost three quick wickets and then Younis (Khan) got out so it became tough."
The third and final Test starts in Sharjah on Wednesday.
