New Zealand lose openers after Hafeez's ton in first Test

New Zealand, set a daunting 480-run target, lost three key wickets and were 69-3 at tea on the fourth day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Following a promising opening partnership of 57, left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar removed first innings centurion Tom Latham for 20 before Yasir Shah bowled Brendon McCullum for 39.
Ross Taylor fell in the last over before tea, trapped in front of the wicket by Shah for eight, to leave New Zealand facing what looked like a certain defeat.
Earlier Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez hit an unbeaten 101 to help Pakistan declare their second innings at 175-2 for an ideal position to force a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
McCullum and Latham gave New Zealand a solid start of 57 but once spinners came on the innings wilted.
Latham swept Babar straight into the hands of Shah at square-leg.
Shah, who so far has figures of 2-15, then accounted for McCullum and Taylor in successive overs to push Pakistan closer to their third win in a row after routing Australia 2-0 last week.
Hafeez reached his sixth Test hundred, with a couple off McCullum. In all he hit two sixes and 12 boundaries during his 130-ball knock.
The first session saw Younis and Hafeez batting solidly.
Younis, who hit a brilliant 100 not out in the first innings, survived a leg-before decision on the last ball before lunch, bowled by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.
But Sri Lankan umpire Ranmore Martinesz's decision was reversed as a referral showed Younis edged the ball onto his pads.
But Younis fell soon after lunch to Sodhi, who finished with 2-66.
Hafeez opened up after a cautious start, hitting boundaries off paceman Trent Boult and then hit two off Sodhi to complete his fifty and follow up his 96 in Pakistan's first innings of 566-3 declared.
Pakistan, resuming at 15-0, had looked for quick runs but were checked by disciplined New Zealand bowling.
Sodhi removed Azhar Ali for 23 to give his team the early breakthrough.
Seamers Trent Boult and Tim Southee finished wicket-less in the match.
Source: AFP