Cricket: NZ top order flops against Pakistan's new-ball bowlers

It had a distinctly "we've been here before" feeling as New Zealand's top order flopped against Pakistan's bowlers of the new ball at University Oval yesterday.

The middle order fell apart later, and the combined effect is the prospect that it could cost New Zealand the first test against Pakistan.

The home team will go into the final day at a grim 147 for eight, holding an overall lead of 244.

New Zealand's second innings includes four ducks among the top seven batsmen, but the slide began at the start, and that's a long-standing pattern.

Opener Martin Guptill and No 3 Daniel Flynn were gone by the end of the third over, both for 0, following New Zealand's first innings foot trip which had them 28 for two.

In the last 11 tests, New Zealand have managed just one opening stand over 50 - 55 by Jamie How and Aaron Redmond at Chittagong against Bangladesh in October last year.

Since then, there have been some depressing slides - 52 for four in that same Chittagong test; 49 for three at Dhaka a few days later; 49 for four, 73 for four and 63 for four in the space of two tests against Australia early last season; 60 for six against India in Hamilton, followed by 23 for three a week later; and 45 for four at Galle a couple of months ago.