Hafeez, Afridi help Pakistan level series v NZ

SAMAA
WELLINGTON: Mohammad Hafeez scored his first one-day century and Shahid Afridi blasted the equal-fastest half century in New Zealand as Pakistan leveled their one-day series against the hosts following a 43-run victory at Lancaster Park on Saturday.  

New Zealand never really challenged Pakistan's imposing 293 for seven, with Martin Guptill (39), Jamie How (24) Scott Styris (46) and Kane Williamson (42) all getting starts but leaving too many runs for the lower order to overhaul the total.   

Skipper Afridi also cleverly rotated his bowlers, who expertly changed their pace and angles, bowled to their fields and took wickets just as New Zealand's batsmen appeared set to push on.  

Tim Southee (13 not out) hit a six off the last ball to drag New Zealand to 250 for nine. Hamnish Bennett was with Southee on four.  

The six-match series is locked at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first match in Wellington by nine wickets last week and the second in Queenstown was washed out on Wednesday.  

Pakistan's innings had been held together by Hafeez (115), who also shared a 94-run partnership with Misbah-ul-haq (35) and 52 runs with Umar Akmal (44).  

Afridi then scored a blistering 65, which included five sixes and five boundaries, as he and Umar blasted a destructive 69-runs off 26 balls as Pakistan made full use of the final powerplay,  scoring 126 runs in the last 10 overs.  

Afridi's half century was brought up on his 19th delivery, equalling the fastest one-day international half century scored in New Zealand, which is also held by Brendon McCullum.

Pakistan win first test series in 4 years

Tribune

WELLINGTON: Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq led from the front, scoring his second half century of the match, to ensure his side batted out the final day to draw the second test against New Zealand on Wednesday and claim their first series victory since 2006.

Misbah finished the day on 70 not out, following on from his 99 in the first innings, as Pakistan reached 226 for five at the close of play, 48 runs short of their victory target of 274.

Adnan Akmal was two not out as the visitors claimed their first series win since they beat the West Indies 2-0 at home five years ago.

Misbah had shared in an 118-run stand with Younis Khan (81) — their second century-stand of the match — after New Zealand had threatened to spoil the visitors’ day when they reduced them to 42-3 in the first session.

Chris Martin was particularly aggressive in the first session, taking 2-24 off nine overs and had the Pakistani batsmen frantically trying to see him off.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori also provided some concerning moments for the visitors, introducing himself in the eighth over and getting bounce from the harder ball and some turn out of the footmarks.

Misbah and Younis, however, slowly but assuredly ground down the attack and for long periods during the session between lunch and tea looked to have given up any pretence of chasing down the target before they slowly began to increase the scoring rate.

New Zealand were given the slightest hope of a final session victory when Younus was caught by Reece Young off Tim Southee in the final over before tea.

Misbah, who faced 172 balls and hit his fifth boundary to bring up his 50 after 255 minutes at the crease, and Asad Shafiq, however, continued to combine stoic defence and flirting with the possibility of launching a frantic final assault.

In the final hour, Vettori trapped Shafiq in front for 24 to leave Pakistan 215-5 and while the New Zealand bowlers attempted to rattle them with several vociferous appeals, Akmal and Misbah negotiated their way through until the close.

Martin finished with 2-63 off 24 overs, leaving him on 199 test wickets.

Pakistan consolidate to 134-2 in reply to NZ's 356

Geo
WELLINGTON: Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali both stroked patient half centuries after the loss of an early wicket to guide Pakistan to 134 for two in reply to New Zealand's 356 at the end of play on the second day of the second Test at the Basin Reserve on Sunday.

Taufeeq blotted his copybook when he was dismissed on the last ball of the day, caught in close by Martin Guptill off Daniel Vettori for 70.

Azhar was not out 62 after he and Taufeeq had combined for a 132-run partnership following the early loss of Mohammad Hafeez for one, when he was given out caught by wicketkeeper Reece Young off Tim Southee to leave Pakistan reeling at 2-1.

Hafeez was unlucky to be given out as replays raised doubts as to whether he had hit the ball.

Taufeeq, however, was the beneficiary of not having the umpire review system in use during the series when he prodded forward to a sharply turning Vettori delivery and Young took a backhanded catch after juggling the ball four times.

Television replays showed he had got a large inside edge on to his pad before Young took the catch. It was the sixth possible decision that could have been overturned by the review system.

New Zealand's innings had been boosted by captain Daniel Vettori's sixth Test century, which was brought up amongst some tense moments at the Basin Reserve.

Vettori resumed after lunch on 79 but accelerated his scoring rate when he lost Southee (one) in the first over after the break and had just Brent Arnel and Chris Martin to come.

The New Zealand captain was on 96 when Arnel was trapped in front for one by Umar Gul and tension rose as the crowd wondered if Vettori would achieve the milestone with Martin striding to the crease to face three deliveries.

Martin's lack of prowess with the bat has attained cult status in New Zealand -- he only scored his 100th Test run in his 60th Test and 87th innings last week, however he survived the three deliveries, even deflecting one to the boundary.

Pakistan thrash New Zealand by 10 wkts in Hamilton Test

The Nation

Pakistan's left-arm attack of Abdur Rehman and Wahab Riaz destroyed the New Zealand second innings and set up a 10-wicket win inside three days in the first cricket Test here Sunday. New Zealand's second turn at bat lasted less than 39 overs as they were rolled for 110 leaving Pakistan a mere 19 runs for victory which was achieved in 22 balls. At one stage New Zealand lost four wickets for one run, collapsing from two for 60 to four for 61 amid a baffling array of aggressive shot-making at a time when patience was required. Pakistan, who resumed the day at 235 for four in their first innings, were all out midway through the second session for 367, a 92-run lead. By the time New Zealand passed that target they were already eight wickets down, with most dismissals the result of poor decision-making by the batsmen. Man-of-the-match Rehman took three for 24 off 15 overs with his left-arm spin, while medium-quick Riaz took three for 38 in an unbroken 11-over spell. When New Zealand started their run chase, they reached 36 in 12 overs before the wickets started to tumble.