DUBAI: All-rounder Jimmy Neesham removed in-form Younis Khan to give New Zealand an important wicket on the third day of the second Test in Dubai on Wednesday. Younis miscued a drive off the seamer and was caught in the covers after scoring 72 for his 29th Test half-century.
But Azhar Ali, batting on 57, and skipper Misbah-ul Haq, unbeaten on 23, took Pakistan to 182-3 at tea, still 221 runs behind New Zealand's first innings total of 403.
Their first target is to avoid the follow-on for which Pakistan need just 22 runs.
Ali drove spinner Mark Craig through point for three to complete his 18th half-century and has so far hit five fours in his 178-ball knock.
Misbah, who scored a hundred in the first Test against New Zealand, has so far hit a six and two fours off 40 balls.
Craig, Ish Sodhi and Neesham have a wicket apiece while spearheads Trent Boult and Tim Southee were still looking for their first wickets in the series.
Pakistan's in-form batsmen were under pressure after a big New Zealand total and, more so, after losing both the openers cheaply on Tuesday.
But Younis and Ali showed no sign of pressure as they started the day solidly.
Younis added an invaluable 113 runs for the third wicket with Ali as the duo batted the full first session without any trouble after Pakistan resumed at 34-2.
Younis reached his half-century with a sweetly-timed boundary off Craig.
Younis hit seven fours and two sixes -- both off Craig -- during his 160-ball knock but fell to a casual shot, spoiling a good chance of scoring another hundred.
He also amassed 468 runs with three hundreds in the 2-0 white-wash of Australia in the preceding series, also played in United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan lead New Zealand 1-0 in the three-match series after winning the first Test by 248 runs.
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