Cricket: Next session crucial for Black Caps

New Zealand face a crucial couple of sessions on the second day of the third test against Pakistan to prevent the match slipping away. Photo / Getty Images.

With cricket tests in the United Arab Emirates so seemingly reliant on the toss, New Zealand face a crucial couple of sessions on the second day of the third test against Pakistan to prevent the match slipping away.

Perhaps there's hope. There have been six tests played in Sharjah and twice a team has lost after winning the toss and batting.

The first occurrence was in 2002 when Pakistan were rolled for 59 and 53 by an Australian attack featuring Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Shane Warne. That's an outlier.

The second came in January when Sri Lanka posted 428, Pakistan replied with 341, Sri Lanka added 214 and Pakistan chased the 302 required to win by five wickets.

New Zealand could face a similar scenario, provided they can stitch together a convincing bowling performance tonight.

At 281 for three and with Mohammad Hafeez on 178, Pakistan's position is powerful.
The fresh pace legs of Trent Boult and Tim Southee need to capitalise on a 10-overs old ball before the trio of spinners try to further justify their presence.

Mark Craig's two wickets made him effective on the opening day; Dan Vettori showed his arm ball can get rid of the best in Younis Khan; and Ish Sodhi had Misbah-ul-Haq dropped by B-J Watling on 20.

Craig alluded to optimism after stumps.

"We're not looking at what we can restrict them to. It's more about us going out there to implement our role as bowlers.

"You've got take your hat off to him [Hafeez]. He batted extremely well, soaking up pressure when we put the ball in the right areas. If we missed slightly he'd put the ball away.

"It's not heartbreaking. It's just part and parcel of cricket."

On 117 and with the total at 175 for three, Hafeez survived a decision review from a Vettori delivery in which the ball appeared to deviate off his bat. The minimal sponsorship for this series means there's no Hotspot and Snicko technology. That left television umpire Ranmore Martinesz with no option but to give the batsman - and umpire Paul Reiffel - the benefit of the doubt.

"We were pretty confident he'd hit it, but we've got to move on," Craig said.
Ross Taylor was more circumspect.

"We weren't 100 per cent. We heard a noise but weren't sure what it was. It's hard to overturn an umpire's decision at that stage."

Taylor stands to become the second New Zealand fieldsman (excluding wicketkeepers) after Stephen Fleming to take 100 catches if he can snare another in this innings. He moved to 99 with his pouch of Azhar Ali off Craig at first slip. For fieldsmen who have more than 70 catches in tests, Taylor (0.900) has the second best ratio behind Australia's Bob Simpson (0.940).

Best ratios of slips catches to dismissals (minimal 70 catches)

Player Catches Innings Ratio
Bob Simpson (Australia) 110 117 0.940
Ross Taylor* 99 110 0.900
Stephen Fleming 171 199 0.859
Mark Taylor (Australia) 157 197 0.796
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) 205 270 0.759
Graeme Smith (South Africa) 169 225 0.751
Greg Chappell (Australia) 122 165 0.739
Mark Waugh (Australia) 181 245 0.738

ANDREW ALDERSON TRAVELLED TO THE UAE COURTESY OF EMIRATES