Kaneria And Openers Lead Pakistan Fightback

Pakistan 223 (Imran Farhat 117no) & 128-0 v
New Zealand 471 (Vettori 134, Danish Kaneria 7-168)

Third Test, Napier, day three

Danish Kaneria took seven wickets and both openers scored unbeaten  half-centuries as Pakistan began fought back on day three of the decisive final Test against New Zealand in Napier.

Leg-spinner Kaneria returned seven for 168 as the home side were bowled out for 471, Daniel Vettori (134) and Daryl Tuffey (80 not out) putting on 87 for the seventh wicket and after New Zealand were eventually dismissed, Salman Butt and Imran Farhat steered Pakistan to 128 without loss at stumps, still 120 runs behind.

Vettori continued where he left on day two having just reached his fifth Test century and Tuffey hit eight fours and two sixes in his innings, comfortably beating his previous best score of 35 as Pakistan were unable to make much headway early on.

Even when Vettori was caught by Umar Akmal off Mohammad Asif, and despite Tim Southee falling for a duck, Tuffey put on 62 with Iain O'Brien (19) to frustrate Pakistan until Kaneria dismissed both O'Brien and Chris Martin (0) to end the innings. Tuffey faced 123 balls in all, Kaneria's figures of seven for 168 coming from 53 overs with ten maidens.

In reply, Pakistan's openers batted patiently for 56 overs without losing a wicket, Salman Butt hitting 66 in 168 balls and Imran Farhat, who carried his bat for a century in the first innings, making 55 in 169 deliveries.

New Zealand won the opening match in Dunedin by 32 runs before Pakistan won by 141 runs in Wellington.

© Cricket World