Imran Farhat Shines Before Wickets Tumble

Imran Farhat Shines Before Wickets Tumble

Iain O'Brien picked up four wickets to keep New Zealand no top in Napier.

©REUTERS/Anthony Phelps (NEW ZEALAND SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Pakistan 223 (Imran Farhat 117no, O'Brien 4-35) v
New Zealand 47-0
Scorecard
Third Test, day one, Napier

Imran Farhat stroked a century before four wickets apiece from Daryl Tuffey and Iain O'Brien ensured that there was still all to play for in the decisive third Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in Napier.

Farhat made 117 before Pakistan were bowled out for 223 and New Zealand closed day one on 47 without loss when bad light ended play early.

Farhat carried his bat in making his third Test century and he completely outshone the rest of his batting partners, the most successful of whom were lower order players Umar Gul (24), Mohammad Aamer (23) and Kamran Akmal (22) after the middle order barely mustered a run.

O'Brien, playing his final Test, dismissed Faisal Iqbal (6), Mohammad Yousuf (0), Umar Akmal (0) and Misbah-ul-Haq (0) to leave Pakistan reeling at 51 for five and only Farhat's innings, which included 14 fours and a six, kept Pakistan fighting, aided by useful runs from the tail before Tuffey returned four for 52.

Chris Martin and Tim Southee, in the side in place of Grant Elliott, also picked up a wicket.

New Zealand's openers Tim McIntosh (31) and BJ Watling (13) then guided their side to stumps with no loss of wickets.

Watling makes his debut at the expense of Peter Fulton, Faisal Iqbal replaces Shoaib Malik for Pakistan, and the three-match series is level at 1-1.

© Cricket World 2009

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