Pakistan all out for 376

 Updated at: 0920 PST,  Monday, January 17, 2011
WELLINGTON: Pakistan were all out for 376 runs in the 27th over after tea to take a first innings lead of 20 against New Zealand on the third day of the second Test at the Basin Reserve on Monday.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq made 99 and Chris Martin took four for 91.

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Pakistan all out for 376

WELLINGTON: Pakistan were all out for 376 runs in the 27th over after tea to take a first innings lead of 20 against New Zealand on the third day of the second Test at the Basin Reserve on Monday.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq made 99 and Chris Martin took four for 91.

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Pakistan on top despite Vettori strike

 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.

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Pakistan steady after early wicket

 Updated at: 0725 PST,  Monday, January 17, 2011

WELLINGTON: Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan took Pakistan to 209 for three after New Zealand's Chris Martin made an early breakthrough on the third day of the second Test Monday. The pair came together after Azhar Ali (67) added only five to his overnight total, falling to a short-pitched Martin delivery that nicked the toe of his bat to provide Ross Taylor with a simple catch at deep extra cover. With Younis Khan also fresh at the crease after New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori dismissed Taufeeq Umar with the last ball of the previous day's play, the Black Caps mixed up their bowling attack in the search for more wickets. But the skipper and Younis rarely looked troubled in fine conditions on a flat track at Wellington's Basin Reserve, which offers the tourists the chance to comfortably overhaul New Zealand's first innings total of 356. Younis took the initiative in the 65-run partnership, hitting five boundaries in the fourth-wicket stand. Misbah, eyeing a fifth consecutive Test half century, was more conservative, content to occupy the crease and attack any loose balls. 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. Martin's wicket gave him figures of one for 47 from 18 overs.

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Pakistan consolidate to 134-2 in reply to NZ's 356

 Updated at: 1112 PST,  Sunday, January 16, 2011
WELLINGTON: Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali both stroked patient half centuries after the loss of an early wicket to guide Pakistan to 134 for two in reply to New Zealand's 356 at the end of play on the second day of the second Test at the Basin Reserve on Sunday.

Taufeeq blotted his copybook when he was dismissed on the last ball of the day, caught in close by Martin Guptill off Daniel Vettori for 70.

Azhar was not out 62 after he and Taufeeq had combined for a 132-run partnership following the early loss of Mohammad Hafeez for one, when he was given out caught by wicketkeeper Reece Young off Tim Southee to leave Pakistan reeling at 2-1.

Hafeez was unlucky to be given out as replays raised doubts as to whether he had hit the ball.

Taufeeq, however, was the beneficiary of not having the umpire review system in use during the series when he prodded forward to a sharply turning Vettori delivery and Young took a backhanded catch after juggling the ball four times.

Television replays showed he had got a large inside edge on to his pad before Young took the catch. It was the sixth possible decision that could have been overturned by the review system.

New Zealand's innings had been boosted by captain Daniel Vettori's sixth Test century, which was brought up amongst some tense moments at the Basin Reserve.

Vettori resumed after lunch on 79 but accelerated his scoring rate when he lost Southee (one) in the first over after the break and had just Brent Arnel and Chris Martin to come.

The New Zealand captain was on 96 when Arnel was trapped in front for one by Umar Gul and tension rose as the crowd wondered if Vettori would achieve the milestone with Martin striding to the crease to face three deliveries.

Martin's lack of prowess with the bat has attained cult status in New Zealand -- he only scored his 100th Test run in his 60th Test and 87th innings last week, however he survived the three deliveries, even deflecting one to the boundary.

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