Pak batsman under pressure after Kiwis dismiss openers for 34 in second Test

Pakistan struggled under pressure after losing both their openers for 34 in reply to New Zealand's big total of 403 in the second Test in Dubai on Tuesday.

Azhar Ali, who posted his individual four runs, and Younis Khan, who hit one, were unbeaten at close on the second day after Shan Masood (13) and Taufeeq Umar (16) departed early to give New Zealand an edge for the first time in the series.

Pakistan still need 170 runs more to avoid the follow-on with eight wickets intact. Their new opening pair, after Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez were ruled out due to injuries, flopped as Masood played over a sharp turning delivery from Ish Sodhi and was bowled between the gap, Sport24 reported.

Umar, playing his first Test in two years, was stumped as he was beaten by off-spinner Mark Craig to cap a good day for New Zealand who added 160 runs in the day.

Besides opener Tom Latham's brilliant 137, New Zealand owed their total to tail-enders who added 125 runs for the last four wickets after they had seemingly squandered a chance to post a big total at 278-6.

Mark Craig (43), BJ Watling (39) and Ish Sodhi (32 not out) fought hard to ensure New Zealand get past the 400-mark, a total which could put an in-form Pakistan batting under pressure.

Watling said that New Zealand had the better of Pakistan on the day. He added that after losing two early wickets they had to try and put up a decent total and they managed that and then Pakistan's two wickets made a good day for them.

Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar was the pick of bowlers with 4-137 while leggie Yasir Shah finished with 2-92 and seamer Ehsan Adil 2-73. Watling and Craig added 68 for the seventh wicket in the post-lunch session to leave the Pakistani bowlers frustrated on an unresponsive pitch.

It was left to part-timer Azhar Ali to break the stand when he had Watling caught in the slips and then two runs later Babar trapped Craig leg-before to leave New Zealand at 348-8.

Craig hit five boundaries in his 110-ball knock while Watling had three hits to the fence in his two-hour stay. Sodhi and Tim Southee (17) added a further 39 for the ninth wicket and Sodhi lofted Babar for a six to post the 400, the report added.