http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864 Test heading for a pulsating finish
New Zealand have set a target of 274 runs for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the second Test match of the two-match series.
The hosts were bowled out for 293 in their second innings on the fourth day of the match being played at Wellington.
The Kiwis started the third session with 181 runs on the board and three of their batsmen back in the hut. The team did not get the ideal start to the final session as two quick wickets fell early.
Jesse Ryder, after adding just 6 runs to his total, misjudged a straight ball from Mohammad Hafeez and the ball went crashing into the stumps.
The wicket may have come after the players were distracted by a rain delay just after the play had resumed post tea. James Franklin did not last long as he became the second victim of Hafeez in the day. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Reece-Young-c2302 then joined the vice-captain of the Kiwi
team Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 at the crease.
Both batsmen steadied the innings and made sure that they do not collapse. The pair amassed an important 60-run partnership for the sixth wicket and took the score to 268.
The hosts suffered a blow as Young and Taylor were both dismissed in quick succession, leaving their team in tatters. The wickets continued to tumble as Umar Gul ran through the tail-enders.
A cameo of 22 runs from 21 balls by Tim Southee saw the home team post a respectable total until close of play. Pakistan did not face a ball in the last session as the play was called-off soon after the last Kiwi wicket fell.
Gul proved to be menacing for New Zealand as he took 4 wickets in the innings with good support from Abdur Rehman and Mohammad Hafeez. Rehman dismissed three Kiwi batsmen whereas Hafeez took two wickets.
The Kiwi team will be satisfied with the total they ended up with. At one stage, they were under a threat of being bowled out well within a lead of 250 but they managed to extend the lead beyond that.
Pakistan will fancy their chances on Wednesday. Although the target is not easy to chase, but a good start from the openers can lay a platform for the middle-order batsmen to try to chase it.
The first session will be the most important one in deciding the outcome of the match. Pakistan is already 1-0 up in the series and a draw will also be good enough for them but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 will have to win in order to save a series defeat.
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