Late wickets boost Black Caps in Dubai

Scorecard: Pakistan v New Zealand

Two late wickets will provide plenty encouragement for the Black Caps going into the third day of the second cricket Test against Pakistan, wicketkeeper BJ Watling says.

Watling put on 68 runs in a key seventh-wicket stand with Mark Craig as New Zealand battled to be all out for 403 after beginning day two on 3-243 in Dubai.

Craig and fellow spinner Ish Sodhi then grabbed a wicket each, removing openers Shan Masood (13) and Taufeeq Umar (16) as Pakistan stumbled to 2-34 at stumps.

Watling says while the Dubai International Cricket Stadium wicket offered something for the Kiwi spinners, pacemen Trent Boult and Tim Southee also played an important role.

"There's a little bit more bounce, there's a little bit more pace, and I think our spinners will enjoy that a bit more," Watling said.

"The way Trent and Tim came at them hard as well, and bowled some nice short balls and put them under pressure – I think the wicket's got a little bit more in it."

Sodhi and Craig also featured with the bat after Tom Latham was dismissed without adding to his overnight score of 137.

Corey Anderson also went inside the first three overs for nine, as the Black Caps slipped to 5-245.

Jimmy Neesham put on 33 with Watling for the sixth wicket before the Kiwi wicketkeeper dug in with Craig in a key seventh-wicket stand.

Watling compiled a patient 39 off 120 balls before part-time leg-spinner Azhar Ali tempted him into a cut which flew to substitute fielder Haris Sohail at backward point.

Craig disappeared five balls later, trapped lbw by Zulfiqar Babar for 43, but the New Zealand tail continued to wag, led by Sodhi's unbeaten 32 off 63 balls.

Watling said while the Black Caps would have liked to bat longer, it hadn't been easy going.

"The spinners were tough to get away, it was tough to score so it was a bit of a grind," he said.

"They bowled reasonably well and the tail definitely did a good job to get us through to 400.

"To get another 100-150 runs with the tail was crucial, and puts us in a decent position but there's still a lot of hard work to be done over the next few days."