SHARJAH: Pakistan recovered from an early shock of opener Shah Masood fall to pass 100 mark after lunch with a fifty from opener Mohammad Hafeez on the opening day of the third and final Test against New Zealand on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Masood was bowled by off-spinner Mark Craig for 12 but fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez (67 not out) and Azhar Ali, unbeaten on 32, steadied the innings.
Pakistan, seeking their second straight series victory after routing Australia 2-0 this month, got a kick-start by winning a crucial toss. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq immediately opted to bat on a dry, flat and grassless Sharjah stadium pitch.
Pakistan scored 115 in 37 overs.
The green-shirts made two changes from the Dubai Test line-up, dropping out-of-form opener Taufeeq Umar and Ehsan Adil, who suffered a side strain. They brought in Hafeez and paceman Mohammad Talha.
New Zealand is playing the Test with three spinners after recalling veteran left-armer Daniel Vettori, playing his first Test for 28 months.
Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0, after winning the first Test in Abu Dhabi and drawing the second in Dubai.
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