Ahmed in Pakistan fightback

He looked every bit a batsman with an average over 40 coaxing his partners through the final throes. Photo / Getty Images

The second test duel between Pakistan and New Zealand continued into the fourth day with the visitors making early progress with three wickets for 31 before Pakistan fought back with an unbeaten 64-run partnership for the 10th wicket just before lunch with the score 376 for nine.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed was the redeemer, making his third test century in his 12th test. He applied a controlled, aggressive approach, gulping up runs as the tail faltered on his way to 108.

He looked every bit a batsman with an average over 40 coaxing his partners through the final throes.

Rahat Ali gave him the most support with eight.

Ahmed, who made a century against Australia last month, has been not out in the teens in three subsequent innings. His form didn't betray him here with the opportunity to pounce on a New Zealand attack vulnerable to complacency at nine down.

Ahmed held his bat grip low and snug, ready to rifle his wrists through anything with width. It also helped him loft the ball through the legside or straight. He also demonstrated expertise farming the strike. Ahmed faced four balls or more in 12 of the first 14 overs of their partnership. McCullum relaxed the field onto the boundary but Ahmed's ability to work singles at opportune times was still impressive.

Tim Southee was the best of the New Zealand bowlers.

He looked like he'd taken some Incredible Hulk pills as he steamed in to mop up the tail and maximise the deficit. However, Ahmed and Ali had narrowed the gap between the teams to 27 runs.

As Dr David Banner was prone to mentioning in the old telly series, "you wouldn't like me when I'm angry".

The Pakistani batsmen must have felt like a green body painted Lou Ferrigno was bearing down as Southee advanced his figures to three for 62 from 28 overs.

He offered venom, or at least as much as a pace bowler can muster on a wicket where the bounce is relatively benign.

His second over of the morning, resulted in the departure of Yasir Shah for two. Bouncer, yorker, bouncer, edge. BJ Watling did the honours.

Then his first delivery to Ehsan Adil next over hammered him on the pads in front of the stumps. A review would only have exacerbated how plumb it was.

Adil saved himself the embarrassment and accepted his duck.

Boult got in on the act shortly afterwards to remove Zulfiqar Babar when he prodded at one on the crease for five.

Mark Craig struggled to make any more of an impact finishing with figures of one for 116 from 27 overs Ish Sodhi also could not add to his overnight tally with two for 83 from 37.

Andrew Alderson travelled to the UAE courtesy of Emirates