Pakistan control New Zealand 1st inning

New Zealand,January,16-2011:Pakistan control the inning after Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali shared a stand of 132 as Pakistan responded to Vettori’s innings of 110 in the second Test against New Zealand.
Vettori’s total came off 166 deliveries, including 10 fours and one six as he led from the front at the Basin Reserve to guide his side to 356 all out.
New Zealand then enjoyed the perfect start with the ball when Mohammad Hafeez was controversially out with just two on the board as the hosts looked to avenge their crushing 10-wicket defeat in the first Test at Hamilton.
However, Taufeeq and Azhar scored 70 and 62 respectively before the former was out from the final delivery of the day, caught by Martin Guptill off the bowling of Vettori.
It left Pakistan on 134 for two, trailing by 222 runs with eight wickets in hand.
New Zealand will be satisfied with their total, especially given they had been 180 for six at one stage.
Pakistan will be disappointed they could not capitalise on New Zealand’s vulnerability yesterday, though, as Adnan Akmal produced a superb wicketkeeper’s performance with six catches while Umar Gul was the pick of the bowlers with four for 87.
New Zealand resumed Sunday on 246 for six with Vettori and Reece Young enjoying a cautious start.
Vettori reached his half-century when he clipped Gul to the leg side for two and it was the skipper who brought up the pair’s 100 partnership when he pushed an Abdur Rehman delivery past the slips for two.
Young then reached his 50 with a boundary off Tanvir Ahmed to take the hosts past the 300 mark.
The score had moved on to 318 when the partnership was brought to an end shortly before lunch when Young became Adnan’s sixth catch of the innings.
Tanvir sent down a short, wide delivery close to Young and he snicked it through to Adnan who made no mistake.
Young departed after making 57 including six boundaries off 162 deliveries and shared a vital stand of 138 with Vettori.
Tim Southee came to the crease and made just one before being caught by Misbah-ul-Haq off Gul.
Brent Arnel became Gul’s second victim of the day, lbw for one, before Vettori fell as the hosts’ innings came to an end, holing out off Rehman to be caught by Misbah.
New Zealand’s attack then enjoyed a perfect start when Hafeez was contentiously given out off Southee having made just one.
He launched at the drive and there was a noise as the ball went through to the keeper and the umpire immediately gave him out.
However, replays were inconclusive as to whether Hafeez hit the ball, although his bat definitely hit the pad.
Taufeeq and Azhar came together and made steady progress from the off.
The pair continued their progress after lunch, Azhar hitting Vettori for six over long-on before bringing up his 50 when he sent a delivery to deep cover.
Taufeeq then took his side to 100 when he steered the ball to deep backward point off Chris Martin before moving on to 50 himself with a shot to mid-off for his second half-century in two Tests.
Taufeeq then turned on the power, but he was out off Vettori when he stabbed at a delivery outside off stump which he prodded to Guptill at second slip.
His innings of 70 included 12 fours and came off 143 deliveries while Azhar’s unbeaten 61 came off 148 deliveries and included seven fours and one six.

source:espnstar.com

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