http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 seamers jolt Pakistan in post-lunch session
New Zealand’s bowlers brought their team back into the game against Pakistan by picking up a couple of crucial wickets in the second session of play. The post-lunch session belonged to the home side, as they took three wickets and conceded just 69 runs until
tea, on day two of the first Test in Hamilton.
At lunch, the visitors were in a positive frame of mind as they amassed 67 runs, giving away only one wicket. The first 50 runs came off just 11 overs. Pakistan’s positive intent to score runs had pushed the opposition bowlers on the defensive side.
After lunch the tourists crumbled, as they lost three wickets in the space of just 32 runs. That put the middle-order under immense pressure. A recovery effort was needed in order to steady the Pakistani innings. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 and Asad Shafiq responded to
the situation and in doing so, the pair put together an unbeaten 29-run stand. As a result of their resilient effort, the touring side went into the tea break at 136 runs for the loss of four wickets.
For the visitors, Taufeeq Umar was the star of the show with the willow. The left-hander played aggressively and hit some delightful shots all-around the park. He was quite severe on anything short of a length, and his cut shots were a delight to watch.
Taufeeq scored 54 runs, smashing 11 boundaries in his fifty.
Azhar Ali also had a decent start to his innings, but did not manage to amass a score of substance. Ali looked good for his 24-run innings and tried to play a sheet anchor’s role, in order lay a solid foundation for the middle-order. The right-hander defended
well and waited for the loose deliveries to dispatch towards the boundary. However, a brilliant piece of bowling brought about Azhar’s demise.
Younis Khan was aggressive from the start of his innings, as he scored his 23 runs of just 24 balls. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 was in smashing form as he struck five boundaries in his short stay at the crease. He was threatening to take the game away from the opposition, but
a soft dismissal cost him his wicket.
Earlier, Pakistan got off to a poor start as they lost the Mohammad Hafeez on the fourth ball of the innings. Hafeez faced four deliveries and was out for a duck.
On a flat wicket at Seddon Park, New Zealand’s bowlers replicated their opponents bowling performance and put up a determined effort with the red cherry, taking four wickets in the Pakistan innings. However, in the first session, they bowled short and provided
the opposition batsman with an opportunity to score runs freely.
After the lunch interval, the Kiwi seamers gathered their thoughts and came out with a new strategy. They delivered a nagging line and length and made the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 batsmen work hard for their runs. Due to the pressure built up by the New Zealanders, the
touring batsmen were forced to take a few risks in scoring their runs, which resulted in them losing a few quick wickets.
Chris Martin was the pick of the bowlers for the home side. Martin kept his length a bit short and troubled the batsmen with his steep bounce. The tall fast bowler recorded decent figures of two for 53.
Brent Arnel, who has only played three Test matches and captured five wickets, impressed everyone with his gritty medium-fast bowling. He consistently bowled in the corridor of uncertainty, and his persistent bowling paid favourable dividends. Arnel finished
the pre-tea session on a high, registering figures of two for 35 in 11 overs.
Misbah and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shafiq-c89281 now have to put up a massive partnership in order to stabilise the Pakistan innings. On the other hand, New Zealand have to keep up the good work by picking up a few more wickets in the final session.
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