Pakistan dominate second session

Updated at: 0842 PST,  Friday, January 07, 2011
HAMILTON: Pakistan took four wickets to claim the honours in the second session as New Zealand went to tea on the opening day of the first cricket Test at 160 for five.

New Zealand added only 82 runs in the two hours of play as Abdur Rehman put the brakes on the scoring with a miserly spell of spin bowling to give him two for 32 off 16 overs.

While the session belonged to Pakistan, their efforts were helped by the manner in which the New Zealand batsmen gave their wickets away.

Rehman's victims included Martin Guptill who had toiled away for nearly four hours to make 50 before receiving a full toss four balls before tea.

It was a delivery that could have been dispatched to any boundary but instead Guptill patted an easy catch to Misbah-ul-Haq in the covers.

Umar Gul took the prized wicket of Brendon McCullum when the New Zealand opener resumed after lunch in an aggressive frame of mind following a cautious start to the match.

With the first ball he faced after the break McCullum drove Gul for six and with the first ball of his next over he pulled him over the mid-wicket boundary.

But when the former Test wicketkeeper, who now wants to focus on his batting career, went for a third boundary he directed the ball straight to Azhar Ali to be out for 56.

Ross Taylor survived a comical run out attempt when Wahab Riaz collected the ball a metre from the stumps and managed to hit his own ankle as he tried to throw the ball.

But it was a short-lived reprieve for Taylor who broke Rehman's run of five consecutive maidens with a four but was caught behind on the next ball by Adnan Akmal for six.

Jesse Ryder reached 22 and was looking to solidify the New Zealand innings when he was trapped backing up too far to a straight drive from Guptill which Riaz deflected on to the stumps.

The not out batsmen were Kane Williamson on 12 and Reece Young, making his Test debut, on two.

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McCullum leads cautious start for New Zealand

Updated at: 0634 PST,  Friday, January 07, 2011
HAMILTON: Brendon McCullum steered New Zealand to a cautious 78 for one at lunch on the opening day of the first cricket Test against Pakistan at Seddon Park here Friday.

McCullum was on 42 with Martin Guptill on 29 after Pakistan won the toss and put New Zealand into bat under overcast skies that offered the bowlers some movement.

However, the cloud cover proved only temporary and towards the end of the two-hour session the bowlers were getting little assistance.

Although the attack lacked sting, it was an uncharacteristically restrained innings from McCullum, despite his 42 including seven boundaries, as New Zealand looked to consolidate after the early dismissal of Tim McIntosh for five.

McIntosh, who was not required for the Twenty20 internationals in recent weeks, looked out of touch and only faced six balls before he prodded at a delivery from Tanvir Ahmed and edged the ball to Younis Khan at second slip.

McCullum also lacked conviction early on and kept the slip cordon interested but luck was on his side.

He survived a run out appeal on nine and appeared to have been caught behind by Adnan Akmal off Wahab Riaz when on 34 but the appeal was rejected by umpire Rob Tucker.

Tanvir Ahmed, the only successful wicket-taker, was one for 20 off seven overs while the more economic Wahab Riaz was none for 15 off seven.

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Pak win toss, bowl against N. Zealand

Updated at: 0402 PST,  Friday, January 07, 2011
HAMILTON: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bowl first under cloudy skies in the first cricket Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton Friday.

"There is a bit of grass, especially on one side of the wicket, and the forecast today is for overcast and so we will bowl first," he said.

Despite the atmospheric conditions and the suggestion the ball will swing on a green wicket, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori had no regrets about the outcome of the toss. "We had a feeling we would bat first, no matter what he said."

Although Pakistan are without frontline players Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, who are appearing before an Independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing in Doha, Qatar, Misbah insisted his side was focused on the Test.

"That's a separate issue," he said when asked about the hearing in Doha. "We are focused here on cricket, we have nothing to do with what's happening there."

Pakistan are ranked sixth in the world, two places higher than New Zealand, and drew both Tests against South Africa in their most recent series last November.

The same month, New Zealand drew two Tests against India before being beaten in the third Test.

Teams: New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Reece Young, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin; James Franklin (12th man).

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz; Umar Akmal (12th man).

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS), Rod Tucker (AUS)
Third umpire: Gary Baxter (NZL)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

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