New Zealand hit back on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

After being bowled out for just 153 on the opening day, the tourists did well to restrict Pakistan to 227 in their first innings despite 62 from Babar Azam.

Trent Boult was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 4-54 from 18.2 overs, and New Zealand then dug in to reach 56 for one when bad light stopped play, a deficit of only 18 runs.

They did not make an auspicious start, losing opener Tom Latham first ball in the second over, but Jeet Raval (26 not out) and Kane Williamson (27no) guided their side to the close with no further losses.

Earlier, left-arm pacer Boult pegged Pakistan back with four wickets.

Boult was well supported by debutant spinner Ajaz Patel (2-64) and Colin de Grandhomme (2-30) as Pakistan could only manage a first innings lead of 74.

Pakistan failed to take a bigger lead after some uninspiring batting, with only Azam (62), Asad Shafiq (43) and Haris Sohail (38) making decent contributions.

Azam hit five boundaries in his 109-ball innings and was the last man out when he edged Boult to keeper BJ Watling.

After the day’s play, Azam said the lack of application from tail-enders meant he had to go for his shots and thus missed out on a century.

“I had it in my mind that if someone stayed with me I could score a hundred. I was telling the tail-enders to not do anything in a hurry but they did just that,” Azam said.