(REUTERS) – Pakistan are in firm control of the first Test against New Zealand in the UAE after their in-form batsmen revelled in ideal conditions in Abu Dhabi to re-write the record books.

The home team’s top-five batsmen all scored in excess of 80 for the first time in Test cricket and three of them went on to hit centuries before Pakistan declared for the fourth successive Test innings, which was also a first.
Their declaration on 566 for three left New Zealand facing an awkward seven overs and, although Brendon McCullum, who was again opening instead of Hamish Rutherford, and Tom Latham were able to safely negotiate a varied attack from Pakistan’s four specialist bowlers up to close of play on the second day, they face a difficult task if they are to force a draw.
The only disappointment for Pakistan was the loss of opener Ahmed Shehzad with a minor fracture of his skull after being hit on the head by a short delivery from Corey Anderson in the 116th over of the innings.
He was out hit-wicket owing to the impact, for a career-best 176, and taken in considerable pain for CT scans which revealed the damage.
“The specialist surgeon has confirmed minor fracture and has advised 48 hours of close monitoring. In case the pain doesn’t subside, then the surgeon may opt for decompression” said team manager Moin Khan. ”
Buoyant after their 2-0 series win over Australia, Pakistan resumed day two on 269 for one and Shehzad, 126 not out overnight, quickly pushed Trent Boult through cover to bring up the century stand with Azhar Ali, who then clipped Tim Southee through midwicket to pass fifty for the fourth time in five innings.
New Zealand were on the brink of a third wicket-less session out of four when, in the final over before lunch, Shehzad tried unsuccessfully to hook a bouncer from Anderson and the ball crashed into the right side of his helmet, dropping his bat onto the stumps as he wheeled away and collapsed to the ground.
It was the first time Pakistan had two 150-plus partnerships for the first two wickets, Shehzad having put on 178 with fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez on the first day.
The tourists had to wait 53 overs for their first wicket and another 63 for their second but the third came relatively quickly when Azhar, on 87, was deceived by Ish Sodhi’s leg-break, but that was as good as it got for New Zealand, though, as Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq continued the run spree.
Pakistan scored 124 runs in the second session and, after tea, the fourth-wicket pair cruised untroubled towards the declaration.
They were neck and neck in the race to a hundred – both were on 99 at one point – before Younis got his fourth century in five innings off 141 balls and Misbah completed his hat-trick of centuries off 162 balls as they took their unbroken partnership to 193 before the declaration.

SCORECARD
Pakistan 1st innings (o/n 269/1)
M. Hafeez c & b Anderson 96
A. Shehzad hit-wicket b Anderson 176
Azhar Ali b Sodhi 87
Younus Khan not out 100
Misbah-ul-Haq not out 102
Extras: (nb-1, b-2, lb-2) 5
Fall of wickets: 1-178, 2-347, 3-373.
Bowling: Boult 26-7-62-0, Southee 23-5-62-0 (nb-1), Craig 33-1-126-0, Sodhi 43-6-162-1, Anderson 19-3-68-2, Neesham 16-0-50-0, B. McCullum 10.5-1-32-0.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings
T. Latham not out 5
B. McCullum not out 9
Extras: (nb-1) 1
Total: (without loss, off 7 overs) 15
Bowling: Rahat Ali 3-2-1-0 (nb-1), Khan 1-0-4-0, Zulfiqar Babar Ali 2-0-6-0, Hafeez 1-0-4-0.