New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat on what appeared to be a benign looking pitch at the Basin Reserve. So it proved to be, as New Zealand moved to 290 for 2 by the close of the first day. Bert Sutcliffe batted imperiously without giving a single chance and was 145 not out. Pakistan took 2 early wickets on day one and Sutcliffe was joined by Stephen Fleming on 117 and the pair shared a partnership of 230 after being reduced to 60 for 2. The track looks very flat and should continue to be for some time to come.
Pakistan had the better of day 2 as their bowlers superbly wrestled control of the match from the Kiwis. Fazal Mahmoud helped orchestrate a collapse as New Zealand lost their last 8 wickets for 80 runs. Mahmoud ended with 3 for 81 and was assisted by Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, who both swung the ball well, negating the good batting conditions. Richard Hadlee bowled Hanif Mohammad for 8, but that was the only blip as Younis Khan and Zaheer Abbas took control, guiding Pakistan to 159 for 1 at the close.
Day 3 continued in much the same way with Younis and Zaheer dominating the bowling. Younis finally fell 30 minutes before tea, caught by Hadlee in the slips for 197, ending a fantastic innings. The game was then rocked in the next over as Zaheer Abbas was struck in the temple by a Trent Boult bouncer. Zaheer was forced to retire hurt and went to hospital as a precaution. Boult had Mohammad Yousuf caught behind off a savage lifting ball just after, and Pakistan were suddenly 334 for 3 (effectively 4). Another hour of play was lost due to rain. Pakistan lost Imran Khan and Javed Miandad before the close with both complaining about the light. Pakistan closed Day 3 on 416-5, leading by 32 runs.
Day 4 saw heavy clouds and a threat of more sustained poor weather. New Zealand got off to a great start when Shane Bond shattered Imtiaz Ahmeds stumps with the first ball of the day. Wasim Akram followed soon after, before Pakistan put on 55 for their last 2 wickets. Their innings ended on 474-9. Shane Bond was the pick of the Kiwi attack with 4-84 off 33 overs. Pakistan took 2 quick wickets to take the early initiative. Bert Sutcliffe was run out by Javed Miandad after being sent back by Kane Williamson and then Martin Crowe was trapped LBW by Imran Khan. They were 18 for 2 when Stephen Fleming came to the crease. He and Fleming batted brilliantly for the rest of the day and closed on 169 for 2, 79 runs ahead.
Imran took 2 wickets in an over at the start of the 5th day, removing Stephen Fleming and then John Reid. Kane Williamson was out just after lunch, smashing a ball back to Wasim Akram, who took a great catch off his own bowling. Williamson made 125 and made up for running out Bert Sutcliffe earlier in the innings. Brendon McCullum kept going however and was finally out for 98 on the stroke of tea. New Zealand declared at tea on 340 for 6 setting Pakistan 250 to win in the final session on a crumbling pitch.
New Zealand struck early as Richard Hadlee knocked out Hanif Mohammad's off stump with Pakistan 4-1. Shane Bond then struck twice in the same over as he had Javed Miandad caught behind and then Younis Khan nicked off to Hadlee at gully. Zaheer Abbas was out of hospital but was unable to bat. Skipper Imran Khan came to the crease and steadied the ship with Mohammad Yousuf. Pakistan reached 63-3 when both captains agreed to call the match a draw at the start of the last hour.
Bad light and rain had accounted for 47 overs lost, which may have been enough to produce a result. Both sides had their moments to shine but Pakistan probably edged the game, even if they came away a little beaten up. Zaheer Abbas is ok and should be fit for their next game as they head off to Barbados to play the West Indies. Mohammad Yousuf was also injured during the final stages of the game and required a runner. His status is unknown. New Zealand are also travelling for their next game and will play South Africa in Cape Town.
New Zealand v Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss
New Zealand: B Sutcliffe; KS Williamson; MD Crowe; SP Fleming; JR Reid; BB McCullum [w] [c]; CL Cairns; RJ Hadlee; DL Vettori; TA Boult; SE Bond
Pakistan: Hanif Mohammad [w]; Younis Khan; Zaheer Abbas; Javed Miandad; Mohammad Yousuf; Imran Khan [c]; Imtiaz Ahmed; Wasim Akram; Fazal Mahmood; Abdul Qadir; Waqar Younis
New Zealand 1st Innings 384-10 (120.5 Ov)
B Sutcliffe 165, SP Fleming 129, Fazal Mahmood 3-81, Imran Khan 2-60, Waqar Younis 2-62
Pakistan 1st Innings 474-9 (153 Ov)
Younis Khan 197, Zaheer Abbas 115*, Javed Miandad 35, SE Bond 4-84, DL Vettori 3-80
New Zealand 2nd Innings 340-6 (108 Ov)
KS Williamson 125, BB McCullum 98, SP Fleming 70, Imran Khan 3-54
Pakistan 2nd Innings 63-3 (22 Ov)
Imran Khan 28*, SE Bond 2-7
Match Drawn
Man of the Match: Younis Khan. His 2nd wicket partnership of 310 with Zaheer Abbas put Pakistan in the box seat
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