NZ Pak T 3 Days 1 & 2: O'Brien, Vettori Set Up Great Opportunity For Hosts

When Iain O’Brien, playing his final Test for New Zealand, plucked out three key Pakistan batsmen for ducks, it was upto the New Zealand batsmen to follow up by putting the visitors under pressure.
O’Brien bowled his heart out and the effort was there for all to see on the first day of the third Test against Pakistan at Napier. New Zealand then followed up with a near century for Brendon McCullum and an unbeaten century for New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, to give the hosts the early edge in the match.
Pakistan were shot out for 223, this despite Imran Farhat carrying his bat through with an unbeaten 117. That was due to O’Brien running through the top order getting Faisal Iqbal for six and then generously handing out ducks to the Pakistan captain, Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal and Misbah ul Haq.
From five down for fifty-one, Pakistan’s late order resurrection was given the boot by Daryll Tuffey who picked up four wickets at the tail end of the line up.
But New Zealand were not without wobbles after Tim McIntosh made seventy-four runs. Danesh Kaneria tried to unsettle the hosts with his four wicket burst. At five down for 145, the game was wide open.
But that was before McCullum and Vettori forged a resolute stand, one that nearly saw them through the day. McCullum’s eighty-nine runs were as pricey as Vettori’s unbeaten 100 in a 176 run partnership that saw the game slip from Pakistan’s clutches as the hosts finished on 346 for six at stumps on the second day’s play with New Zealand leading by 123 runs.

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