Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Younis Khan continued his strong batting form on the Dubai pitch with a half century on Wednesday to lead Pakistan to 118-2 at lunch on the third day of the second test against New Zealand.
Khan blunted New Zealand's spinners with aggressive batting and was unbeaten on 53 at the same venue where he scored test centuries in two innings against Australia last month.
He reached his fifty by dispatching offspinner Mark Craig's delivery to wide long on the boundary in the last over before lunch.
Azhar Ali was also not out on 35 as both batsmen kept New Zealand wicket-less in the first session after Pakistan resumed at 34-2.
New Zealand scored 403 in the first innings, getting a huge boost from opening batsman Tom Latham's 137 runs and some fine late resistance by its tailenders.
New Zealand had hoped to build on its momentum after its spinners removed both Pakistan opening batsmen cheaply late Tuesday. But Khan and Ali batted aggressively in the first hour to combine for 50 runs.
Khan twice lofted Craig on the leg side for big sixes and also hit six fours in his unbeaten 105-ball knock.
Ali smashed Corey Anderson for two fours in one over, causing the left-arm fast bowler to be taken out of the attack after bowling just two overs.
Pakistan leads the three-match series 1-0 after an emphatic 248-run victory in the first test last week.
