Cricket: Intrigue assured for final day

Chris Martin and Tim Southee of the Black Caps walk from the field at the end of the innings of day four of the second test match against Pakistan at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Photo / Getty Images

One of the most fascinating cricket days of recent home summers looms tomorrow and it will take a brave person to pick a result as New Zealand and Pakistan head into the fifth and final day of the second test at the Basin Reserve here virtually all square.

New Zealand were dismissed on the stroke of stumps today for 293 in their second innings, setting Pakistan 274 to win from a minimum 90 overs.

The hosts could have been in a much stronger position to call the shots had it not been for a dynamic late spell from paceman Umar Gul, but the match is nonetheless evenly poised.

The hosts lost their last five wickets for 25 runs as Gul ripped through the tail with some devastating reverse swing fast bowling despite No 11 and batting bunny Chris Martin at one point denying him a hat-trick with an inside edge to a straight delivery.

Pakistan, who lead the two-test series 1-0, would have been more than happy with their day's efforts as they seek a first series win since 2006, but New Zealand, too, will have few issues with their position.

Resuming this morning at nine without loss, New Zealand needed to force the issue in an attempt to square the series and they made the perfect start, reaching lunch at 106 without loss as Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill notched just their country's second 100-run opening partnership at test level since 2004.

Just as they were poised to up the ante, however, Pakistan dismissed McCullum for 64 and then employed wily tactics to restrict the hosts' progress.

Pakistan's over rate was poor, while they employed ring fields and deep fielders to stem the flow of runs, and left-arm quick Wahab Riaz effectively used the short-pitched bowling tactic.

The upshot of it all meant New Zealand found runscoring difficult, and even more so when they lost four wickets for 42 runs either side of the tea break.

Ross Taylor, who scored 52, his second half-century of the match, and wicketkeeper Reece Young, who made 20, steadied the ship with a 60-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but they were unable to put the foot down because they knew any more wickets would have seen them in danger of being bowled out too cheaply.

Both players were dismissed in the final 30 minutes before stumps, which triggered the Gul-inspired collapse as the paceman finished with four for 61.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman and part-time offspinner Mohammad Hafeez were the earlier standouts for Pakistan, taking three and two wickets, respectively, on a pitch accepting some turn.

Rehman wheeled down 39 overs for his return of three for 119, nabbing the vital wickets of McCullum from a miscued shot which carried to long off, Guptill, leg before wicket for 73 after a four-hour stay, and Young.

Hafeez was the surprise package and his performance would have given spinner Daniel Vettori, who took four wickets in Pakistan's first innings, some hope for tomorrow.

He got the odd ball to turn viciously and claimed the scalps of top-order batsmen Jesse Ryder for 17 and James Franklin for 11.

Coming off consecutive first-ball ducks, Ryder looked good in his short stay but imploded first ball after a 24-minute rain delay when he meekly shouldered arms to a straight ball from Hafeez and was bowled.

Franklin edged to first slip after his feet went nowhere, leaving Hafeez, the opening batsmen, with two for 35 from 14 overs.

Pakistan were sloppy in the field, however, with five dropped catches and 13 no balls. Guptill was the beneficiary on three occasions, on 34, 44, and 54, while McCullum had a life on 26 and Young was dropped without scoring.

The forecast tomorrow is for early rain to clear in the morning, meaning all three results are very much in play.

- NZPA