Asif, Kaneria heroics push New Zealand to door of defeat against Pakistan in final test

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WELLINGTON - The Pakistan team is eyeing a series-levelling victory against New Zealand after establishing a 229-run lead at stumps on day two of the second Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Resuming the day on 161-6, the tourists managed to finish at 264, after wicket keeper Kamran Akmal (70) and fast bowler Umar Gul added 64 runs for the eighth wicket.

New Zealand did not start their reply well, as fast bowler Mohammad Aamer got the wicket of Martin Guptill for a first-ball duck, while paceman Mohammad Asif dismissed Tim McIntosh for four to leave the home side reeling on 5-2.

The Kiwis were eventually dismissed for 99 runs in a mere 36.5 overs, with Asif and spinner Danish Kaneria taking seven wickets between themselves.

During the process the home side lost six wickets for 14 runs in 39 balls, and recorded an all-time low at the venue against Pakistan, relegating the 103 cribbed against a rampant Shoaib Akhtar in the Boxing Day test of 2003, The New Zealand Herald reported.

Ross Taylor and Daniel Flynn registered the largest partnership of 43 runs before Taylor was bowled by Gul.

In the second innings Pakistan scored 64 runs for the loss of two wickets at stumps.

Scorecard: Pakistan

First innings (161-6 overnight)

I Farhat c Taylor b Vettori 32

S Butt c Tuffey b O’Brien 29

U Akmal b Tuffey 46

M Yousuf lbw b Vettori 0

Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Vettori 21

S Malik c Vettori b Tuffey 9

K Akmal c Vettori b Tuffey 70

M Aamer c Taylor b O’Brien 21

U Gul c O’Brien b Tuffey 31

M Asif c and b Vettori 4

D Kaneria not out 0

Extras (1w) 1

Total (all out, 88.2 overs) 264

Fall: 60 (Butt), 66 (Farhat), 66 (Yousuf), 119 (U Akmal), 131 (Malik), 156 (Misbah), 193 Aamer), 257 (K Akmal), 264 (Asif), 264 (Gul)

Bowling: C Martin 20-2-64-0, D Tuffey 23.2-5-64-4, I O’Brien 23-4-78-2 (1w), D Vettori 22-6-58-4.

New Zealand

First innings

T McIntosh c Butt b Asif 4

M Guptill c K Akmal b Aamer 0

D Flynn lbw b Asif 29

R Taylor b Gul 30

P Fulton lbw b Gul 0

G Elliott c and b Kaneria 20

B McCullum c Malik b Asif 0

D Vettori c Misbah b Kaneria 6

D Tuffey c Yousuf b Asif 3

I O’Brien c Farhat b Kaneria 0

C Martin not out 0

Extras (7lb) 7

Total (all out, 36.5 overs) 99

Fall: 1 (Guptill), 5 (McIntosh), 48 (Taylor), 52 (Fulton), 85 (Flynn), 85 (McCullum), 95 (Elliott), 96 (Vettori), 96 (O’Brien), 99 (Tuffey)

Bowling: M Aamer 11-2-25-1, M Asif 12.5-2-40-4, U Gul 7-2-21-2, D Kaneria 6-2-6-3.

Pakistan - Second innings

I Farhat c Fulton b O’Brien 35

S Butt c Taylor b O’Brien 18

M Yousuf not out 10

Misbah-ul-Haq not out 1

Extras 0

Total (for 2 wkts, 23 overs) 64

Fall: 49 (Butt), 54 (Farhat).

Bowling: C Martin 6-1-21-0, D Tuffey 4-0-15-0, I O’Brien 6-1-16-, D Vettori 7-4-12-0. (ANI)