Vettori Hammers Home New Zealand Advantage

Vettori Hammers Home New Zealand Advantage

Daniel Vettori's fifth Test century put New Zealand into a big lead.

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (SRI LANKA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images - file photo

Pakistan 223 (Imran Farhat 117no, O'Brien 4-35) v
New Zealand 346-6 (Vettori 100no, McCullum 89)
Scorecard

Skipper Daniel Vettori's unbeaten century helped New Zealand take total charge of the third and decisive Test on day two in Napier.

Resuming on 47 without loss in reply to Pakistan's 223, New Zealand had a handy lead by the end of the day, closing on 346 for six with Vettori unbeaten on 100. Brendon McCullum made 89 and there was a return to form for Tim McIntosh, who hit 74 before becoming one of four wickets for leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

BJ Watling was the first to go, having made 18 and Pakistan made good progress as they dismissed Martin Guptill (13), Ross Taylor (21) and Daniel Flynn (5) cheaply but first McIntosh, who faced 187 balls, and then Vettori, kept New Zealand on top.

Vettori faced 127 balls and hit nine fours and a six while McCullum's 89 came in 103 balls with 11 fours and one maximum, the pair sharing a partnership worth 176 which put their side in the lead.

Vettori reached his fifth Test century and McCullum was eyeing up a fourth but he fell when he was caught by Faisal Iqbal off Umar Gul.

Kaneria returned four for 119 by dismissing McIntosh, Guptill, Taylor and Flynn while it was Mohammad Asif who had debutant Watling caught by Umar Akmal.

Daryl Tuffey was unbeaten on 13 when stumps were drawn with New Zealand 123 runs ahead.

New Zealand won the opening test in Dunedin by 32 runs before Pakistan hit back with a 141-run win in Wellington.

© Cricket World 2009

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