Pakistan recover to bat out draw

Pakistan lost three wickets for five runs after lunch but recovered to bat out a draw to retain their 1-0 lead over New Zealand going into the final Test in Sharjah. Pakistan went from 70 for 1 to 75 for 4 before Asad Shafiq, in partnerships with Younis Khan and Sarfraz Ahmed, dug in to earn the stalemate.

Shafiq batted 116 deliveries for his unbeaten 41, and his 74-run stand with Younis took 23.4 overs out of the game. The in-form Sarfraz came in and hit a quick 24 as he and Shafiq played out 11.3 overs before both sides decided to call off the match around 30 minutes into the final hour. Play was unlikely to have lasted much longer with light fading, with an hour-long lunch break having being taken on account of Friday prayers.