Hamilton (New Zealand), Jan.9 (ANI): Pakistan won the first Test against New Zealand by ten wickets on Sunday, the third day of the match.
On a still-placid track, the Black Caps were bowled out by some incisive Pakistan bowling. They let themselves down through some inept batting, transforming a Test that had been closely fought on the first two days into a hopelessly one-sided contest in just one session.
For New Zealand, who had challenged India in their Test series there, it marked another low, and a dispiriting start - discounting the Twenty20 series prior to this - to John Wright's tenure as coach.
Pakistan's lower order, including its bowlers, played a crucial role in stretching the first-innings lead to 92 after the loss of two early wickets in the day.
New Zealand fielders dropped catches at regular intervals, while Pakistan hardly gave anything away. The Kiwi seamers often over pitched to the tailenders, while the Pakistan bowlers backed their superior pace by varying their lengths.
Pakistan's left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers. In the first innings, he strangled New Zealand's run-flow with a spate of maidens in the session after lunch on the first day. It was, therefore, no surprise when skipper Misbah-ul-Haq turned to him as early as the ninth over in New Zealand's second attempt.
He claimed three wickets for 24 runs. He claimed the wickets of opener Tim McIntosh, middle-order batsman Martin Guptill and skipper Daniel Vettori. In all, he took seven wickets for 87 runs. Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul took three for 28 in New Zealand's second innings.
The scores at the end of the match: Pakistan 367 (Shafiq 83, Misbah 62, Arnel 4-95) and 21 for 0 beat New Zealand 275 (Southee 56, McCullum 56, Ahmed 4-63) and 110 (McCullum 35, Rehman 3-24, Gul 3-28) by 10 wickets. (ANI)
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