Fawad Alam breaks historic batting drought against New Zealand 

Pakistan batsman Fawad Alam brought up a career-defining Test century against New Zealand at Bay Oval on Wednesday.

The tourists were in dire straits at Mount Maunganui, crumbling to 4/75 in pursuit of 373 runs for an unlikely victory in the fourth innings.

But Alam combined with newly-appointed captain Mohammad Rizwan to survive more than 63 overs at the crease together in a gritty 165-run partnership.

The 35-year-old Alam brought up his century in 236 deliveries, ending an 11-year drought in Test cricket. 

Alam made his Test debut way back in 2009, plundering a century in the second innings against Sri Lanka.

But the left-hander was dropped after three matches, and was not given another opportunity at Test level until earlier this year.

Alam scored 30 first-class centuries in the 4188 days between his two Test tons.

As revealed by cricket statistician Andrew Samson, it was the third-longest drought between centuries in Test history.