||Desk Report||

Pakistan have leveled the three-match Test series as New Zealand were condemned to an innings defeat in the second Test in Dubai.

Yasir Shah led Pakistan’s comeback by taking 14 scalps in the second Test after his side succumbed to a 4-run defeat in the first Test. He has also equaled Imran Khan’s record of taking the most number of wickets for Pakistan in a Test match.

Batting first, Pakistan made a bold move by declaring their innings at 418/5, as Azhar Ali (81), Haris Sohail (147), and Babar Azam (127*) put them in command.

In reply, New Zealand spluttered dismally, posting only 90 runs in their first innings, as Yasir spun his way to a career-best 8/41.

The Kane Williamson-led side showed promise earlier in the second innings, with Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, and Henry Nicholls belting a fifty each. However, apart from this trio, the rest failed to show any signs of resilience to even avoid the innings defeat.

Yasir again bagged the lion’s share of wickets, returning figures of 6/143 and also won the Man of the Match.

“Yasir Shah's spell was one of the best I have ever seen in my four-year Test career,” Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said after the match.

The series-deciding third and final Test will be start on December 3 in Abu Dhabi. Following this series, New Zealand will host Sri Lanka for a full-fledged series and Pakistan will tour South Africa for Test and ODI series.