Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Younis Khan missed out on yet another century as Pakistan reached 182-3 to trail New Zealand by 221 runs at tea on the third day of the second test on Wednesday.
Khan, who scored four centuries in the previous three tests, was out for 72 playing a loose drive off medium-pacer James Neesham.
Khan put on 113 runs with Azhar Ali in just over three hours before Neesham struck in his second over in the second session, as New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum persisted with his seamers in defense of their first-innings total of 403.
Ali completed his 18th test fifty and was unbeaten on a determined 57 with five fours, while captain Misbah-ul-Haq was not out on 23 at the interval.
Earlier, resuming the day at 34-2, Khan and Ali dominated the spinners and took Pakistan to 118-2 at lunch with Khan reaching his half century in the last over.
Khan blunted New Zealand's spinners with aggressive batting at the same Dubai venue where he scored test centuries in two innings against Australia last month.
He reached 50 by dispatching offspinner Mark Craig's delivery to the long on boundary in the last over before lunch.
New Zealand hoped to build on its momentum after its spinners removed both Pakistan opening batsmen cheaply late Tuesday. But Khan and Ali were in no mood to be tied down, and combined for 50 runs in the first hour.
Khan twice lofted Craig on the legside for big sixes, and Ali smashed Corey Anderson for two fours in one over, causing the left-arm fast bowler to be taken out of the attack after just two overs.
With legspinner Ish Sodhi (1-42) and Craig (1-61) failing to trouble Khan and Ali in the first session, McCullum deployed his four seamers after the break which slowed down Pakistan's progress. Ultimately, Khan chased Neesham's wide delivery and was caught low by Craig in the covers.
Khan's 72 came off 160 balls, and included seven fours and the two sixes.
Ali remained composed and reached his half century off 150 balls with five fours, as he added 37 with Misbah.
Pakistan leads the three-match series 1-0 after an emphatic 248-run victory in the first test last week.
