WELLINGTON – Pakistan skipper Misbahul-Haq fell agonisingly short of a century when he was trapped LBW on 99 as New Zealand clawed their way back into the second Test on Monday.
Pakistan were all out for 376 in reply to the Black Caps’ 356, leaving the Test evenly poised after New Zealand received a lucky break when an umpiring error cost Younis his wicket, breaking a 142-run partnership with Misbah.
The tourists had been cruising at 286-3 until the last ball before tea, when Jesse Ryder caught Younis at short leg off a Daniel Vettori delivery that television replays showed missed the bat. Younis departed on 73, shaking his head at a decision that sparked a Pakistan collapse as New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori and paceman Chris Martin tore through the batting line up to finish with four wickets apiece.
It was the latest in a spate of umpiring errors that have marred the two-Test series, in which the umpire referral system is not in use.
While Younis could feel justifiably miffed at umpire Rod Tucker, the most disappointed player at Wellington’s Basin Reserve was probably Misbah, who looked set to reach his third Test century and guide his side to a big lead.
After occupying the crease for more than five hours, facing 207 balls and providing the backbone of Pakistan’s innings, Misbah was dismissed lbw on 99 when a Chris Martin delivery cut back on him.
His team-mates could not capitalise on his hard work, giving Pakistan a slender first innings lead of 20, which Black Caps’ openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum had whittled down to 11 by stumps. New Zealand opened the day brightly, as Azhar Ali (67) added only five to his overnight total, falling to a short-pitched Martin delivery that nicked the toe of his bat to provide Ross Taylor with a simple catch at deep extra cover.
But from there the Black Caps struggled to get anything out of a flat Basin Reserve pitch until Younis’ controversial dismissal gave them a way back into the match.
Vettori, desperate to level the two-Test series after a humiliating loss in Hamilton, needed no second invitation, ousting Asaq Shafiq for a duck soon after tea with a fizzing delivery that carried to Taylor in the slips. The captain, who made his sixth Test century with the bat the previous day, finished the innings with figures of four wickets for 100 off 47 overs. Martin also came to the party, taking four for 91 off 32 overs. But New Zealand will be hoping their fightback is not made redundant by bad weather which is forecast to affect play on Tuesday and Wednesday, potentially providing a draw that would give Pakistan a series win.
Younis Khan was pleased with his half-century on day three at the Basin Reserve as Pakistan went to stumps 11 runs ahead of New Zealand, having made 376. Younis’ 142-run stand with Misbah-ul-Haq formed the bedrock of Pakistan’s total as the pair ground New Zealand down for the best part of two sessions, scoring at less than three-an-over and batting out sixteen maidens between them. “I had a hundred against South Africa and now I have a good innings here as well,” said Younis. “Before the World Cup you need a couple of good innings like today’s one, so I’m happy about that.”
