Cricket: NZ v Pakistan first test, third day - lunch report

Ahmed Shehzad of Pakistan is hit on the head and tumlbes into his wicket from Corey Anderson's bowl. Photo / Getty Images

Pakistan 566-3
New Zealand 81-3

The players are the best judge but the Abu Dhabi wicket didn't look like it had somehow drawn on a menacing cloak heading into the third day.

However, New Zealand looked unstable creaking to 81 for three at lunch with Tom Latham unbeaten on 42 and Corey Anderson not out 13. Dressing room contagion threatened, following the wickets of Brendon McCullum for 18, Kane Williamson for three and Ross Taylor for a duck.

Zulfiqar Babar, the left-arm orthodox spinner, looked to be generating a few degrees of extra turn but more importantly he zeroed in on a good length. That's the confidence Pakistan could afford to exude with four or more men around the bat and 566 runs on the board.

The New Zealand batsmen opted to go back more than forward, a plan which gave them more time to play but left them vulnerable to low bouncing arm balls.

Such circumstances invite intimidation, albeit subtle. The cacophony of chirping around the bat must have felt like being in a human aviary from which there is no escape other than scoring more runs to incite the fielders' removal, or getting out.

The exuberant Pakistani vocal chords reached challenging octaves after any Zulfiqar delivery came close to contact with an edge or a pad. Silly point, short leg, leg slip, slip and keeper made up a shrill Babarshop quintet as the spinner conducted.

The hosts were fully justified, too. Rahat Ali also found regular bounce which most assumed disappeared yesterday with the exception of Anderson's bouncer to dismiss Ahmed Shehzad. He was a struggle to get away off and, at lunch, had suffocated the New Zealanders with seven maidens from eight overs.

Zulfiqar was rhythmical and mesmerising; he deserved to find the outside edges of McCullum and Taylor as they sought to get a gauge on his flight. He had two wickets for 37 from 12 overs after the first session.

Of the New Zealanders, Latham showed the most resolve. He looks to the manor born as a grafting opening batsman and, if he continues in this fashion, his mana in the team will rise. Few environments are capable of testing a fledgling New Zealand test cricketer more, but he constructed a platform from which he could indulge in confident sweeps and punishing cuts and drives off the back foot.

His opening partnership of 33 with McCullum was New Zealand's equal best in the last 15 innings, dating back to the start of the West Indies tour in December.

Along with Latham, Anderson offered solid resistance to guide New Zealand to the break.

He pulled one Imran delivery for four but otherwise exercised due diligence to try to justify his move to No.5 in the order and the inclusion of two all-rounders in the New Zealand XI.

ANDREW ALDERSON TRAVELLED TO THE UAE COURTESY OF EMIRATES.