On another good surface New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first.
Pakistani bowlers dented the Black Cap top order with their controlled line and length as New Zealand top order failed to click yet again. Brendon McCullum fell LBW to Umar Gul in the very first over.
From there on wickets kept on falling at regular interval. New Zealand reached 80-2 by lunch but afterwards, things turned against for them.
Martin Guptill fell caught behind to Tanvir Ahmed for 29 and of the very next ball Jesse Ryder also edged one off Tanvir to the efficient Adnan Akmal as New Zealand slumped to 98-4. It was Ryder’s second successive golden duck and Pakistan were in the driving seat. From the other end, Ross Taylor held the fort and added 68 for the fifth wicket with James Franklin. But just when things seemed to be settling, Abdur Rehman removed Franklin and soon Taylor also departed after making 78 off 168 balls as New Zealand were left tattering at 180-6.
However, Reece Young combined well with Daniel Vettori to ensure that there weren’t any more losses by the end of day’s play. Bowlers also took their foot of the accelerator a bit towards the end. It was also a good day for wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal who took five catches .
Star of the day: Wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal proved to be the hero for Pakistan. He is younger brother of Kamran Akmal and is a compact glovesman. Adnan supported the bowlers appreciably well by taking all his chances in high winds.
Moment that Mattered: At 180-6 things were going out of hand for the hosts but skipper Daniel Vettori joined hands with Reece Young to ensure that no further damage was done. Both played the Pakistani bowlers bravely to add 66 unbeaten runs for the seventh wicket as New Zealand ended the day at a slightly respectable score of 246-6.
