(REUTERS) – New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult claimed four wickets to spark a recovery as they restricted Pakistan to a fir-t innings lead of 74 on day two of the first Test in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Boult broke two half-century stands, while debutant left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel ripped through the lower order to dismiss Pakistan for 227.
New Zealand, who collapsed for 153 in their first innings, lost opener Tom Latham for a duck when they returned to bat in the final session but recovered to reach 56-1 at stumps.
Resuming at 59 for two, Pakistan’s overnight batting pair Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail made steady progress in the morning session to add 64 runs before falling in consecutive overs.

Sohail (38) chipped a full-toss off spinner Ish Sodhi to mid-wicket before Boult forced an edge off Ali (22), which was matched with a stunning one-handed catch by wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
Azam and Asad Shafiq batted with intent as they improved their scoring rate to reach 144-4 at lunch.

Pakistan were threatening to run away with the game, having moved into the lead, but the run flow was choked by fast bowler Neil Wagner, who at one point racked up four consecutive maidens.
It was Boult who provided the breakthrough when Shafiq (43) could only chop a searing inswinger back on to his stumps.

Patel, at the other end, was rewarded for his extended spell as he removed Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed through a mistimed sweep to square leg for his first Test wicket.
The 30-year-old Indian-born Kiwi did not have to wait long for his second wicket, with Bilal Asif getting himself stumped off a flighted delivery.
Yasir Shah showed signs of resistance but, after playing out 38 balls for nine runs, became the 150th Test scalp for Wagner.

The Kiwis wrapped up the innings when Azam feathered a Boult delivery down the leg side to Watling.
Azam finished with a gritty 62 off 109 balls to give the hosts a precious lead on a deteriorating surface, while Boult finished with an impressive 4-54.

The visitors exuded calm in the final hour after losing Latham in the second over as skipper Kane Williamson (27) and Jeet Raval (26) trimmed Pakistan’s lead to 18 runs, negotiating a disciplined opening spell from in-form quick Mohammad Abbas.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 153
PAKISTAN 1st innings o/n 59-2
Imam ul-Haq c Kane Williamson b Colin de Grandhomme 6
Mohammad Hafeez c Kane Williamson b Trent Boult 20
Azhar Ali c BJ Watling b Trent Boult 22
Haris Sohail c Tom Latham b Ish Sodhi 38
Asad Shafiq b Trent Boult 43
Babar Azam c BJ Watling b Trent Boult 62
Sarfraz Ahmed c Neil Wagner b Ajaz Patel 2
Bilal Asif stp. BJ Watling b Ajaz Patel 11
Yasir Shah c BJ Watling b Neil Wagner 9
Hasan Ali c Ross Taylor b Colin de Grandhomme 4
Mohammad Abbas not out 0
Extras: (b-4, lb-4, nb-1, w-1) 10
Total: (all out, 83.2 overs) 227
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-27, 3-91, 4-91, 5-174, 6-177, 7-195, 8-220, 9-227.
Bowling: Trent Boult 18.2-6-54-4, Colin de Grandhomme 13-6-30-2, Ajaz Patel 24-4-64-2, Neil Wagner 18-5-30-1 (w-1, nb-1), Ish Sodhi 10-0-41-1.

NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings
Jeet Raval not out 26
Tom Latham b Hasan Ali 0
Kane Williamson not out 27
Extras: (b-3) 3
Total: (22.4 overs) 56-1
Fall of wickets: 1-0 Latham.
Bowling: Mohammad Abbas 6-4-5-0, Hasan Ali 4-1-12-1, Yasir Shah 8-1-21-0, Haris Sohail 1-0-1-0, Bilal Asif 3-0-13-0, Mohammad Hafeez 0.4-0-1-0.