Opener Ahmed Shehzad hit a brilliant hundred to steer Pakistan to 269 for one at close on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi, here today.
Shehzad was batting on 126 for his third Test hundred -- all made this year -- but fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez missed his by four runs as New Zealand's pace-cum spin attack toiled hard on an unresponsive pitch at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 46, having added 91 for the unbroken second wicket stand with Shehzad. It was another batting domination by Pakistan after Brendon McCullum called wrongly at the toss and his counterpart Misbah-ul Haq took no time in opting to bat, as he did in the 356-run mauling of Australia in the second Test at the same venue last week.
Shehzad ensured he did not miss the three-figure mark, taking a single off seamer Jimmy Neesham to reach his hundred off 221 balls with 12 boundaries.
In all Shehzad hit 14 boundaries during his 290-ball stay and even a second new ball after 80 overs did not waver his concentration. Hafeez and Shehzad put on Pakistan's best stand of 178 against New Zealand in all Tests, beating the 172-run partnership between Ramiz Raja and Shoaib Mohammad in the Karachi Test in 1990.
Shehzad hit five boundaries off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi in the second session while Hafeez entered his nineties with three fours.
Ali, who scored twin hundreds against Australia last week, has so far hit three boundaries in his patient knock.
Hafeez though failed to reach his sixth hundred when he gave a return catch to Corey Anderson. He hit ten boundaries during his 212-minute stay at the crease.
