Wellington test tantalisingly poised after Pakistan take 20 runs lead in first innings
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 captain Misbah Ul Haq summed up the woes of his batsmen, in converting their fifties into hundreds, by being dismissed for 99 runs, becoming the fourth batsman from his team to score a fifty in the innings. The tourists sneaked ahead with a 20 run
lead in the first innings of the second and final test being played at the Basin Reserve in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864.
The tourists had the chance of batting the hosts out of the series, yet, once again their batsmen fizzled out their good starts by their lack of application to help the hosts stay in the game.
Resuming at the overnight score of 134/2, the tourists lost Azhar Ali early in the piece for 67. This was the sixth fifty for the right-hander who was playing his 10th test; he is yet to convert any of his double figure knocks in a three figure
score.
Younis Khan was joined by his captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 and the two veterans buckled down and played some fine shots to take their team to a solid position. Younis who is the only Pakistani to score a ton in the last ten matches was dismissed for 73 after adding
142 for the fourth wicket with his captain; his innings came off 161 balls and included 10 fours.
Younis was dismissed by Daniel Vettori, who followed his hundred in the New Zealand innings by a four wicket haul.
The demise of the seasoned campaigner triggered a collapse. Asad Shafiq, who scored 83 in the Hamilton test perished without scoring, while Adnan Akmal’s breezy 22 runs knock was ended by Vettori when the keeper spooned a catch to short fine leg.
Pakistan lost the wicket of Abdul Rehman soon afterwards; the all-rounder was dismissed for 5 by Chris Martin who also claimed 4 wickets in the innings.
Misbah Ul Haq perished to Martin as well as the right hander, who is known for his strange dismissals at crucial times, lived up to his reputation when he missed a straighter one from the bowler and trudged of disappointingly, one short of his third test
hundred.
Pakistan were bowled out for 376, throwing away the advantage they had over the hosts.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 openers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill survived the last 5 overs of the day as the hosts are 9 for no loss in their second innings, 11 short of wiping off the deficit with two days left in the match.
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