Azhar, Haris anchor Pakistan after wobbly start in Dubai Test

DUBAI: A sturdy partnership by Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail averted another possible batting collapse after a wobbly start by Pakistan in the second Test against New Zealand on Saturday. 

Pakistan lost both the openers within an hour of the opening session after winning the toss and opting to bat in Dubai.

New Zealand medium pacer Colin de Grandhomme took two wickets to rattle Pakistan to 56-2 at lunch, dismissing Mohammad Hafeez (nine) and Imam-ul-Haq (nine) in successive overs.

Grandhomme, preferred over the more experienced Tim Southee for the second match running, had Hafeez caught in the slip by Tom Latham in the eighth over of the match.

Hafeez´s poor run of form continued. He has managed just 66 runs in six innings since scoring a comeback hundred against Australia at the same venue last month.

Imam, dropped on nine by Latham, fell in the same manner in Grandhomme´s next over who has figures of 2-14.

Pakistan need a big total as they bid to level the three-match series after suffering a morale-shattering four-run defeat in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.

Both teams fielded unchanged lineups, with Pakistan resisting the temptation of playing teenage quick Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Playing XI

Pakistan: Imam ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain and wicketkeeper), Bilal Asif, Yasir Shah, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Abbas

New Zealand: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wicketkeeper), Colin de Grandhomme. Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult