Azhar Ali struck four boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 62

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Azhar Ali scored an unbeaten 62 and Bilal Asif took a five-wicket haul as Pakistan retained the upper hand over New Zealand on the second day in Abu Dhabi.

Starting off the day on 229/7, New Zealand added 25 runs to their overnight score before debutant William Somerville was clean bowled by Asif for 12.

Ajaz Patel only made six runs before he was caught by Asad Shafiq at slip off the bowling of Asif.

New Zealand ended up being bowled out for 274 when Trent Boult was cleaned up by Asif for one run.

Bilal Asif finished with figures of 5-65 off 30.1 overs

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Wicketkeeper BJ Watling was left stranded on 77, which came off 250 balls and included four boundaries.

Asif was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Yasir Shah snapped up three, and Hasan Ali and debutant Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Trailing by 274 runs, Pakistan lost opener Mohammad Hafeez on the 10th ball of their innings as he was caught by Tim Southee at second slip off the bowling of Boult for a duck.

Imam-ul-Haq, who opened the batting with Hafeez, only mustered nine runs before he was caught by Southee at third slip off the bowling of Boult.

Azhar and Haris Sohail stabilised the innings with a 68-run partnership before Sohail was caught behind off the bowling of Southee for 34.

Azhar and Shafiq kept the runs flowing with an unbeaten 54-run stand, during which Azhar brought up his fifty, before stumps was called.

Azhar finished on 62, which came off 169 balls and included four boundaries, while Shafiq remained undefeated on 26, which came off 85 deliveries and also included four boundaries.

Boult was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Southee claimed one.

Pakistan ended day two on 139/3 and will continue batting on Wednesday at 10:00 local time or 06:00 GMT.