Williamson, Nicholls swell New Zealand lead to 198 runs in final Test

Dubai: Captain Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls combined in a terrific double-century stand to propel New Zealand's lead against Pakistan to a valuable 198 runs in the third test on Thursday.

Williamson, who resumed on the fourth day on 14, batted the entire day and grafted an unbeaten 139 off 282 balls with 13 fours.

Left-hander Nicholls overcame a jittery start to be 90 not out off 243 deliveries as New Zealand overcame being 60-4 in the morning to reach 272-4 at stumps and regain the advantage. Pakistan let it slip away through lapses in the field and taking a defensive approach.

New Zealand was still trailing Pakistan in its second innings by 14 runs when Nicholls joined Williamson before lunch. But they batted with determination and luck in an unbroken 212-run, fifth-wicket stand to leave Pakistan worried about what total it may be chasing to win the series on the last day Friday. 

New Zealand will be in charge and favored for the series win when it will probably decide to end its second innings and leave enough time to bowl out Pakistan. 

Pakistan does not have happy memories at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium, where New Zealand won the first test by just four runs after setting Pakistan a target of 176.

Pakistan made a perfect start to the fourth day when legspinner Yasir Shah became the quickest bowler to reach 200 test wickets in his 33rd test by dismissing nightwatchman Will Somerville for 4. But Shah dropped Williamson on 80 and 106.

And Imam-ul-Haq couldn't hold onto a sharp reflex catch of Nicholls close to the wicket on the leg side soon after the left-hander completed his half-century before tea. Shah could have dismissed Nicholls on 3, but Pakistan didn't go for the leg before wicket referral. 

Video replays showed the ball would have crashed onto the leg stump. Nicholls survived another chance on 9 when he successfully overturned an lbw decision against him off Shah's sharp turning delivery from round the wicket.