Cricket: Match-fixing cloud hangs over famous NZ win

Bryan Young led New Zealand to victory in the third test against Pakistan in 1994. Photo / Getty Images

A famous New Zealand cricket test win over Pakistan has come under question following recent match-fixing claims surrounding the current Pakistan side.

Former Black Cap Simon Doull says New Zealand's third test win over Pakistan in 1994, in which he played in, included 'some strange incidents', after the Pakistani bowlers gave away 'free runs'.

New Zealand went into the third test in Christchurch having already lost the opening two matches and were in a poor position at the end of the second day. The Black Caps trailed Pakistan by 152 runs after being bowled out for just 200 in their first innings.

Pakistan then set New Zealand 324 to win the test and Bryan Young (120) and Shane Thomson (120 not out) led the Black Caps to victory, which still remains New Zealand's highest successful chase.

Talking on TV3's Campbell Live last night Doull said it wasn't until the recent claims against Pakistan players for spot-fixing did he start to think about the 1994 test that he played in.

"Well I guess when these things come up you do look back at games you've played in and have been involved in and certainly ask questions," Doull told Campbell Live host Tony Reid.

"I think back and think that was one of those games in question where you looked at and thought there were some strange incidents that went on that you maybe wouldn't have thought at the time but certainly do now."

Doull said it was weird that New Zealand successfully chased a big total against a Pakistan bowling attack which had dominated them all series.

"I guess there was a lot of no-balls in that innings as well, I think Wasim Akram bowled about 12 no-balls. There was a lot of short deliveries that seemed to give as free runs.

"I don't want to detract from the two centuries that were scored, magnificent hundreds by Bryan Young and Shane Thomson, but it did seem a little weird, I suppose, that they bowled so well throughout the series, cleaned us up in Auckland and Wellington and then we came to Christchurch.

"It was the biggest total New Zealand has ever chased down in a test match, 340-something, and we ended up doing it reasonably comfortably."

Doull admitted at the time he never thought anything was wrong with Pakistan's performance only questioning the result recently.

"At the time it was a test match win and I think it was all about the beer and champagne to be honest."

Pakistan trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were meeting with Pakistan officials today to answer questions about the match-fixing allegations.

The News of the World reported Sunday that Asif and Amir were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls on the opening day of the fourth test against England at Lord's.

The three players as well as wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were implicated in the story.

Doull, who is now a cricket commentator, confirmed he was never approached during his 32-test career by someone asking him to fix a match and didn't know of any New Zealand players that had been.

- NZHERALD STAFF