Hafeez's 7th Test Ton Guides Pakistan

Sharjah: Opener Mohammad Hafeez hit a brilliant hundred to help Pakistan reach 281-3 at stump on the opening day of the final Test against New Zealand in Sharjah on Wednesday.

Hafeez was on 178 for his seventh Test hundred and with him skipper Misbah-ul Haq 38 not out after Pakistan won a crucial toss and decided to bat on a flat, grass-less Sharjah stadium pitch.

New Zealand, seeking to level the three-match series after losing the first in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs and drawing the second in Dubai, hit back in the second session by dismissing Azhar Ali (39) and in-form Younis Khan for five.

Pakistan were comfortably placed at 82-1 at lunch but Ali became off-spinner Mark Craig's second wicket, caught in the slip off a loose shot.

Ali added 87 for the second wicket with Hafeez.

Vettori, recalled in place of Jimmy Neehsam, is playing his 112th match for New Zealand, becoming his country's most capped player beating Stephen Fleming who played 111.

Vettori also played one Test for an ICC World XI in 2005.

Hafeez, who missed the second Test with a hamstring injury, reached his hundred with a brace of boundaries off Craig and then took a single.

He has so far hit 23 boundaries and three sixes during his dominating 262-ball knock.

In the first session, Pakistan had a confident start of 44 before Craig bowled Shan Masood for 12.

Earlier, Pakistan have won the toss and have opted.

A couple of changes in Pakistan squad -- Mohammad Hafeez is back for Taufeeq Umar. Mohammad Talha is back for Ehsan Adil.

For Blackcaps -- Dan Vettori is playing as the third spinner for us and will bat at 6 Jimmy Neesham sits out.

Teams:

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt.), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Talha

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (Capt.), Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling (wk), Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

Brief scores
Pakistan - 281/3 (Mohammad Hafeez 178*, Craig 2-67)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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