Akmal Brothers Keep Pakistan Fighting

Akmal Brothers Keep Pakistan Fighting

Kamran Akmal backed up his brother's efforts with 82.

©REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (SRI LANKA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealand 429 (Vettori 99, Taylor 94) v
Pakistan 307-8 (Umar Akmal 129)
Scorecard
First Test, Dunedin, day three

Umar Akmal scored a century on his Test debut and a half-century from his brother Kamran just about kept Pakistan in contention on day three of the first match against New Zealand in Dunedin.

After New Zealand were bowled out for 429, Umar's 129 and Kamran's 82 steered Pakistan to stumps on 307 for eight.

The day began with New Zealand batting for a little more than five overs, Shane Bond hitting 22 and Iain O'Brien an unbeaten 13 before Chris Martin was trapped in front by Saeed Ajmal for a duck to signal the end of the innings.

Mohammad Asif had Bond caught by Kamran to finish with four for 108 on his comeback while Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul and Ajmal all picked up two wickets.

In reply, Martin made up for his failure with the bat with the wickets of Khurram Manzoor (6) and Imran Farhat (22) and Bond then dismissed Fawad Alam (29), captain Mohammad Yousuf (17) and Shoaib Malik (2) to leave Pakistan in trouble at 85 for five.

The Akmal brothers then added 176 for the sixth wicket, both men scoring runs in good time to produce an effective counter-attack, Kamran making 82 in 136 deliveries and Umar's 129 coming from 160 balls with 21 fours and two sixes.

New Zealand hit back late in the day, however, Bond having Umar caught by Peter Fulton and a double strike from Daniel Vettori to get rid of Kamran and Gul (6) ensured that New Zealand were in a strong position by stumps.

Aamer was unbeaten on 12 alongside Asif, who has yet to score, when stumps were drawn.

© Cricket World 2009

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