Shaheen Afridi gives Pakistan early breakthrough on debut

Debutant Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early in the series-deciding third and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday, after New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat.

The 18-year-old left-arm pacer, who is in for injured Mohammad Abbas, lbwed opener Tom Latham to leave New Zealand one down at 24.

There is all to play for in the match as the series is level at 1-1, after New Zealand won the first Test by four runs in Abu Dhabi and Pakistan bounced back with an innings and 16 runs victory in Dubai.

Shaheen took back to back four wicket hauls in the 1-1 drawn one-day series against New Zealand last month before getting seven wickets against England Lions in a four-day match, also in Abu Dhabi.

New Zealand brought back experienced pacer Tim Southee in place of Neil Wagner while leg-spinner Ish Sodhi made way for 34-year-old off-spinner Will Somerville who is making his debut.

Pakistan also have their hopes pinned on leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who is set to become the fastest to reach 200 Test wickets.

Test Cap Number 236!@iShaheenAfridi makes his Test debut today.#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/kcOSBys883

— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) December 3, 2018

The 32-year-old needs just five wickets to shatter Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmettt´s record of completing 200 wickets in 36 Tests, way back in 1936.

He took eight wickets in the first Test here but Pakistan fell agonisingly short, losing by four runs before levelling the series at 1-1.

Teams

Pakistan: Imam ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Bilal Asif, Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi

New Zealand: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Will Somerville, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult

Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)

TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)

Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)

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