Former South Africa head coach Mickey Arthur, who is now coaching Pakistan, has heaped plenty of praise on leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

Shah clinched a record 14 wickets in Pakistan’s recent innings and 16-run victory over New Zealand in the second Test in Dubai.

He completed telling figures of eight for 41 in the first innings and six for 143 in the second, effectively silencing critics.

‘We knew he had a big performance inside him. That first innings, I think there was a spell of about half an hour of the best leg-spin bowling you will ever see. Fourteen wickets in a Test match is superb,’ said Arthur.

‘Yasir is very comfortable mentally, and he knows what an important cog he is in our Test lineup. He got his rhythm going and we felt he was really good.’

Shah’s performance saw him move into the top 10 of the International Cricket Council’s rankings for Test bowlers, from 19th position to 10th.

He was named Man of the Match, and after 22 wickets in two fixtures, is on course for the Player of the Series accolade.

The victory squares the three-match series at 1-1, setting up an intriguing third and final Test in Abu Dhabi, starting on Monday.

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