Rain halts Kiwi bid to win Napier Test
By ANITuesday, December 15, 2009
NAPIER - The third and final cricket test between New Zealand and Pakistan ended in a draw after rain washed out the final session of play at McLean Park today, leaving the series drawn 1-1.
Set 208 for victory, New Zealand were 90 without loss and scoring freely when the players were forced from the field at 5.34 p.m.
B J Watling scored a lightning 60 off 62 balls and fellow opener Tim McIntosh 23 off 54 balls as New Zealand got off to a superb start to the chase.
Captain Daniel Vettori was named man of the match after scoring 134 in New Zealand’s first innings before taking two from 93 from 56 overs in Pakistan’s second innings of 455.
Earlier today, the Black Caps claimed six wickets to remove Pakistan and keep the test alive.
Three came before lunch and three after it in a steady and productive effort in the field.
It took that unlikely bowling hero Martin Guptill to wrap things up. The part-time spinner was brought in and trapped Mohammad Asif lbw to finish with 3-37 for the innings, the best of the Kiwi attack.
New Zealand won the first test in Dunedin by 32 runs and Pakistan won the second test by 141 runs in Wellington. (ANI)
