Defiant Taylor (79) saves N. Zealand
WELLINGTON, Jan 15 (AFP) - Pakistan again exposed the
brittleness of the New Zealand batting line up when they reduced the
Black Caps to 246 for six at stumps on the first day of the second Test
on Saturday.
In what has become a familiar pattern in recent Tests, the New
Zealand lower order was asked to prop up the innings after the top order
had largely failed.
Apart from a stubborn 78 by Ross Taylor there was little of substance
in the face of a bowling attack which toiled away on a pitch that held
few demons.
Taylor reached 78, his 11th Test half century, while the next highest
score was captain Daniel Vettori, the number eight batsman, who was
unbeaten on 38 at stumps.
Vettori and Reece Young (28 not out) have put on 66 for the seventh
wicket, closing in on the highest partnership of 68 by Taylor and James
Franklin for the fifth wicket.
But around them there was carnage as Umar Gul snapped up two for 53,
Tanvir Ahmed two for 63 and Abdur Rehman one for 53 while five of the
dismissals were caught behind by wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal.
After New Zealand's humiliating loss inside three days in the first
Test coach John Wright and captain Vettori stressed the need for the
batsmen to show perseverance and patience.
But, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, the game plan of
dogged resistance was immediately abandoned with senior batsman Brendon
McCullum out for two, leg before wicket to Gul, on the last ball of the
first over.
Gul also claimed the wicket of Kane Williamson for 21 and was unlucky
not to get Martin Guptill, on five, when the ball was edged to Akmal but
in the strong wind umpire Daryl Harper did not hear the nick and gave
Guptill not out.
It was a short-lived reprieve as Guptill reached 29 before Tanvir
Ahmed broke through just after lunch, removing the opener and Jesse
Ryder in successive balls, both caught behind as New Zealand slumped to
98 for four.
James Franklin joined Taylor at the crease and they launched a rescue
mission which took New Zealand to 166 before Franklin attempted to turn
left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman down the leg side and Akmal snapped up a
smart catch.
New Zealand only added 14 more runs before Taylor edged the first
ball of a new spell by Wahab Riaz and his long stand was over leaving
the tail exposed.
However, on a placid wicket and with the Pakistani bowlers tiring in
the blustery conditions Vettori and Young were able to negotiate their
way to stumps and in the process they saw off the first eight overs with
the new ball.
Score Board
NEW ZEALAND
1ST INNINGS
M. Guptill c Adnan Akmal b Gul 29
B. McCullum lbw Gul 2
K. Williamson c Adnan Akmal b Gul 21
R. Taylor c Adnan Akmal b Riaz 78
J. Ryder c Adnan Akmal b Ahmed 0
J. Franklin c Adnan Akmal b Rehman 33
R. Young not out 28
D. Vettori not out 38
Extras (b 7, w 9, nb 1) 17
Total (6 wkts; 90 overs) 246
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-46, 3-98, 4-98, 5-166, 6-180.
To bat: T. Southee, B. Arnel, C. Martin.
Bowling: Umar Gul 21-2-53-2
Tanvir Ahmed 17-5-63-2 (2w)
Younis Khan 1-0-9-0
Wahab Riaz 16-3-46-1 (3w)
Abdur Rehman 29-9-53-1 (1nb)
Mohammad Hafeez 6-0-15-0 |