Skipper Brendon McCullum hit New Zealand’s fastest Test century to lead a strong New Zealand reply after spinner Mark Craig took seven wickets to outshine Pakistan in the third and final Test in Sharjah on Friday.
McCullum was unbeaten on 100 off 78 balls – his tenth century – as New Zealand reached 1-164 at tea on the second day, 187 behind Pakistan’s first-innings total of 351.
Kane Williamson was equally aggressive with 45-ball 44 not out as the duo punished a sloppy Pakistan attack during their 98-ball, 113-run, unbroken stand for the second wicket, lifting their efforts for a series-levelling win.
Pakistan lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test and drawing the second.
McCullum was severe against left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, hitting four of his five sixes off him and hitting four boundaries in one paceman Mohammad Talha over before two quick singles completed his hundred.
This was the fastest hundred ever by a New Zealand batsman, beating the 81-ball hundred Ross Taylor made against Australia at Hamilton in 2010.
In all McCullum has so far hit 13 boundaries.
Earlier off-spinner Mark Craig took a career best 7-94 as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for 70 runs to get bowled out for 351 after resuming at a strong 3-281.
Opener Mohammad Hafeez hit a career-best 197 before he miscued a pull off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and was caught at deep square-leg.
He hit 25 boundaries and three sixes during a dominating seven-hour ten-minute stay at the crease to better his previous highest of 196 made against Sri Lanka in Colombo two years ago.
But it was skipper Misbah-ul Haq who sparked a collapse, edging seamer Tim Southee to wicket-keeper BJ Watling in the fourth over of the day, without adding to his Wednesday’s score of 38.
Craig wrapped up the middle and lower order dismissing Asad Shafiq (11), Sarfraza Ahmed (15), Talha (nought), Rahat Ali (nought) and Yasir Shah (25) – his last four wickets coming off 25 balls.
Craig’s previous best of 4-91 came in his debut Test against the West Indies in Jamaica in June this year.
Before the start, Pakistan and New Zealand teams and officials observed a minute’s silence and wore black armbands to join in the mourning for young Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.
Hughes, 25, died Thursday from a rare head injury after being hit by a bouncer in a first-class match in Sydney, leaving the cricketing world in shock.
The New Zealand team also did not celebrate any dismissal.
The teams abandoned Thursday’s second day’s play in the third and final Test on Thursday after the tragic news of his death as a mark of respect.
