ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Centuries by Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq strengthened Pakistan's position in the series-deciding third and final test against New Zealand on Wednesday.
Azhar hit 134 off 297 balls and Shafiq made a splendid 104 off 259 deliveries as Pakistan reached 312-5 at tea on the third day.
Both batsmen featured in a 201-run fourth-wicket stand before perishing against the spinners in the second session as Pakistan led New Zealand by 38 runs with five wickets still in hand.
Babar Azam was unbeaten on 14 and captain Sarfraz Ahmed was not out on 1 at the break.
New Zealand debutant Will Somerville (1-60) had to wait until his 22nd over to get his first test wicket when Azhar top-edged a sweep shot.
Azhar's 15th test hundred and the first against New Zealand included 12 boundaries. Shafiq completed his century with a single off Somerville but fell leg before wicket off left-arm bowler Ajaz Patel (1-79) in the next over.
Shafiq's 12th test century included 14 fours as he used his feet well against the spinners and played some delightful cut shots against seamers.
Earlier, resuming on 139-3, Pakistan had a productive first session. Azhar, the dependable No. 3 batsman, square cut Trent Boult over backward point for a boundary off the very first ball of the day and completed his century within the first hour.
New Zealand couldn't get the breakthrough even after bowling 10 overs with the second new ball before lunch.
New Zealand wasted one of its two reviews when they went for an unsuccessful caught-behind television referral against Shafiq off Boult's (2-66) first over with the second new ball.
Both New Zealand spinners couldn't get enough help off the wicket in the first session until finding some success in the second.
That was in sharp contrast to the effort of Pakistan spinners Bilal Asif and Yasir Shah, who bagged eight wickets between them in New Zealand's first innings score of 274.
Azhar, 62 overnight, completed his flawless century, off 210 balls, with an edgy boundary through third man off Colin de Grandhomme. Shafiq then reached his 50 off 142 balls when he reverse swept Patel for two runs as Pakistan added 85 runs in the first session.
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