New Zealand completed an innings and 80-run win over Pakistan in the third and final Test in Sharjah earlier today, to level the three-match series 1-1.
Seamer Trent Boult took 4-38 and Mark Craig 3-109 which overshadowed Asad Shafiq’s career-best 137 as Pakistan were dismissed for 259 in their second innings at Sharjah stadium.
Boult ended Shafiq’s fighting 183-minute knock of 18 fours and six sixes — his fifth Test century — with a short delivery.
Craig wrapped up the innings by dismissing Rahat Ali for six to end with match figures of 10-203.
He took 7-94 in the first innings.
Earlier, Boult had shaken Pakistan at the start of the innings, dismissing Shan Masood (four) in his second over, bowled Azhar Ali (six) in his fourth and trapped Younis Khan for a first ball duck in his fifth in a destructive spell.
His devastating spell came after New Zealand extended their first innings to 690 in the morning — their highest-ever total in Test cricket.
That gave New Zealand a huge 339-run lead over Pakistan’s first innings total of 351 and they pressed home their advantage quickly with Boult’s strikes.
