1 Dec 2014

Black Caps win third Test

8:29 am on 1 December 2014

The New Zealand cricketers have beaten Pakistan by an innings and 80 runs in the third and final test in Sharjah to level the series at 1-all.

Pakistan, who won the first match of the series in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs, were all out for 259 in their second innings with paceman Trent Boult taking 4 wickets.

Brendon McCullum is congratulated by Kane Williamson after the skipper's dismissal for 202

Brendon McCullum is congratulated by Kane Williamson after the skipper's dismissal for 202 Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Earlier in the morning, New Zealand's first innings closed on 690 with Mark Craig making 65 and becoming the sixth batsman to score at least a half-century in the innings.

The visitors hit 22 sixes in total, another record for the most number of maximums in a test innings.

On a docile pitch at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium where New Zealand posted their highest total in tests, the 25-year-old Boult extracted enough movement and pace to rattle the Pakistan top order.

Boult dismissed Shan Masood (4) in the third over, bowled Azhar Ali (6) with the last delivery of his fourth and then returned to dismiss Younus Khan for a duck leg before with the first ball of his next over.

Off-spinner Mark Craig, who took seven wickets in the first innings, continued to punish Pakistan by dismissing opener Mohammad Hafeez and captain Misbah-ul-Haq... Craig finished with 10 wickets in the match.

Asad Shafiq staged a lone battle for Pakistan and completed his fifth test hundred with an aggressive 137 off 148 balls but ran out of partners in the end.

The New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum says really tough circumstances to play the test match here, referring to the death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes on Thursday.

He says their thoughts were elsewhere for the majority of the game.... when they look back at this result in due course they'll obviously be very proud.

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who returned to tests for the first time since July 2012, also chipped in with a wicket in what could be his last match in the format.

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