New Zealand beat Pakistan in Abu Dhabi to claim historic Test series victory

New Zealand beat Pakistan by 123 runs on the final day of the third Test match in Abu Dhabi to win the series 2-1.

Set 280 to win, Pakistan were bowled out at the Zayed Cricket Stadium for 156, with Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, and William Somerville all taking three wickets each.

Babar Azam (51) was the only Pakistan batsman to produce a significant score, but his task proved thankless as wickets consistently fell at the opposite end.

Mohammad Hafeez (8) was the first to go in his final innings as a Test player following his decision to retire at the end of the series, while Azhar Ali (5), Haris Sohail (9), and Asad Shafiq (0) quickly followed to leave the hosts 43-4.

After opener Imam-ul-Haq fell for 22, Pakistan produced their sternest resistance of the innings when Babar and Sarfraz Ahmed (28) combined for 43 runs, but after the captain was bowled by Somerville, New Zealand closed in on victory.

Bilal Asif (12) was the next to go off the bowling of Southee, before the bowler struck again to remove Yasir Shah (4).

It was then just a matter of time for New Zealand to claim the remaining wickets, and once Babar fell to Patel, it was all but game over. Patel then took the match-winning wicket of Hasan Ali (4) as New Zealand claimed their first Test series win in Asia since 2008 and their first away to Pakistan since 1969.

Earlier, New Zealand had declared on 353-7, after centuries from captain Kane Williamson (139) and Henry Nicholls (126 not out).