Updated at: 0906 PST, Monday, January 17, 2011
WELLINGTON: Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan combined for a 142-run stand to put Pakistan in a commanding position against New Zealand at tea on the third day of the second Test Monday.
New Zealand needed a poor umpiring decision to break the partnership with the last ball before tea, when Jesse Ryder caught Younis at short leg off a Daniel Vettori delivery that TV replays showed missed the bat.
Khan, whose 73 included 10 boundaries, departed shaking his head, the latest to fall in a spate of umpiring decisions in the two-Test series that replays have shown to be questionable.
However, there is no provision in the match rules for the captains to appeal to the third official.
Pakistan, looking to overhaul New Zealand's first innings 356, will take some comfort in the progress Younis and Misbah made after Azhar Ali (67) added only five to his overnight total.
After that breakthrough from Black Caps' paceman Chris Martin, the frustrated New Zealand bowlers toiled for little reward on a flat track at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
Making his fifth Test half century in five innings, Misbah offered no chances as he went into the tea break on 70.
Forecasters predict bad weather will threaten play on Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning a big total could secure the two-Test series for Pakistan after the tourists easily wrapped up the first Test inside three days.
Vettori's late strike gave him figures of two for 75 from 34 overs.
