ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Pakistan pinned down New Zealand to 81-3 through its seam and spin attack in a prolonged opening session of the first cricket test.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah's (2-33) twin strikes before lunch and an early breakthrough by Mohammad Abbas (1-10) kept New Zealand under pressure after visiting captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat.
Williamson was unbeaten on 40 and Henry Nicholls was not out 15 at the interval after a 37-over session extended to 2-1/2 hour because of Friday prayers.
The left-handed opening pair of Tom Latham (13) and Jeet Raval (7) were constantly tested by Abbas before the right-arm seamer found the edge of Raval's bat in his fifth over.
Latham played a lose drive to Shah's fourth delivery and was caught at short mid-wicket on the second attempt by Mohammad Hafeez.
Shah also had Ross Taylor (2) caught behind as New Zealand slipped to 39-3 in its first test match in more than seven months.
Williamson and Nicholls combined to defy Pakistan's bowling attack in a 42-run partnership on a wicket where spinners are already getting some turn.
Ajaz Patel, a 30-year-old left-arm spinner, earned his first test cap for New Zealand, while experienced seamer Tim Southee was left out of the starting XI. Colin de Grandhomme, Neil Wagner and Trent Boult are the three seam bowlers in the attack with Ish Sodhi the other spinner.
Pakistan also selected two specialist spinners with Bilal Asif to partner Shah. Test match specialist batsmen Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali also returned, while opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq recovered from a head injury sustained during the ODI series against New Zealand.
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