Pakistan dismissed New Zealand for 293 at stumps on Tuesday after a dynamic late spell from Umar Gul threw the second Test at the Basin Reserve wide open heading into the final day. Honours were even on the fourth day, with New Zealand's openers finally clicking to post a 120-run stand and Pakistan then taking seven wickets for 112 in the final session to give themselves a second innings target of 274.
Gul was the pick of Pakistan's bowlers, producing reverse swing to take four wickets to 61 runs - including first innings centurion Daniel Vettori (1) - supported by Abdur Rehman with figures of three for 119. The result set up an intriguing final day as the Black Caps seek to defend a creditable total on a wearing pitch and Pakistan chase their first Test series win since 2007. Already 1-0 up after a crushing 10-wicket win in Hamilton, the visitors will be content to bat out the day for a draw if Wellington's weather interrupts play as forecast.
The Black Caps appeared headed for a big total when Brendon McCullum (64) and Martin Guptill (73) began the second innings with a 120-run stand, the first time New Zealand's openers have reached 50 in the series. The opening partnership, only the second to make 100 for the Black caps since 2004, was broken when left-arm spinner Rehman tempted McCullum into an ambitious shot just after lunch that Tanvir Ahmed took comfortably at long off.
From there, only Ross Taylor (52) offered any serious resistance as New Zealand's batting frailties were again exposed when the home side tried to push up the run rate and set an imposing target. Coach John Wright will be concerned at some of the dismissals as he seeks to improve New Zealand's brittle top order following his appointment in December.
While Reece Young (20) was unlucky to fall to a sensational one-handed catch by Azhar Ali at silly mid-off, Jesse Ryder (17) shouldered arms and allowed an innocuous delivery from part-time spinner Mohammad Hafeez into his stumps. Hafeez produced some sharply turning deliveries to take two for 31 in a performance that would have given New Zealand skipper Vettori hope his side can bowl out Pakistan on Wednesday to avenge the humiliation in Hamilton.
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SCOREBOARD
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New Zealand 1st innings: 356
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Pakistan 1st innings:
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T. Umar c Guptill b Vettori 70
M. Hafeez c Young b Southee 1
A. Ali c Taylor b Martin 67
Y. Khan c Ryder b Vettori 73
M. Haq lbw b Martin 99
A. Shafiq c Taylor b Vettori 0
A. Akmal c Martin b Vettori 22
A. Rehman c McCullum b Martin 5
U. Gul c McCullum b Martin 19
T. Ahmed c Taylor b Southee 7
Wahab Riaz not out 7
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Extras: (b 1, lb 2, w 2, nb 1) 6
Total: (all out; 133 overs) 376
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Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-134, 3-144, 4-286, 5-294, 6-324, 7-333, 8-360, 9-363, 10-376.
Bowling: Martin 32-7-91-4, Southee 28-7-102-2, Arnel 16-4-50-0, Franklin 9-1-30-0, Vettori 47-11-100-4, Guptill 1-1-0-0.
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New Zealand 2nd innings:
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M. Guptill lbw Abdur Rehman 73
B. McCullum c Tanvir b Rehman 64
K. Williamson c Adnan b Tanvir 15
R. Taylor lbw Umar Gul 52
J. Ryder b Mohammed Hafeez 17
J. Franklin c Younis b Hafeez 6
R. Young c Azhar b Rehman 20
D. Vettori b Umar Gul 1
T. Southee not out 22
B. Arnel lbw Umar Gul 0
C. Martin c Adnan b Umar Gul 1
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Extras: (b 2, lb 6, nb 13, w 1) 22
Total: (all out; 90.5 overs) 293
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Fall of wickets: 1-120, 2-166, 3-166, 4-192, 5-208, 6-268, 7-268, 8-275, 9-275, 10-293.
Bowling: Umar Gul 20.5-4-61-4, Tanvir Ahmed 10-0-36-1, Abdur Rehman 39-6-119-3, Wahab Riaz 8-1-38-0 Mohammed Hafeez 13-3-31-2
Toss: New Zealand
Series: Pakistan 1-0
Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS), Rod Tucker (AUS)
Third umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI).