Cricket: Poor batting obscures good bowling

Amid the carnage left by New Zealand's batsmen, it's easy to overlook what the bowlers have achieved in this test.

Pakistan were dismissed for 239 in their second innings yesterday, on top of the 264 accumulated in their first dig.

They are totals with which most bowlers might expect to win test matches, especially on a good batting strip that has no hidden demons or extravagant turn.

Yesterday seamers Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin did the damage, each picking up four wickets as they ripped through Pakistan's tail. Grant Elliott chimed in with two wickets in consecutive balls.

They all bowled demanding lines and were backed up by some good catching - and it has left skipper Daniel Vettori with some hope they can pull off a miracle in the next two days.

"You have to [believe we can win]," he said hopefully. "That's what our bowling performance has allowed us to do. To restrict them to that score was a fantastic effort from the seamers. It was a wonderful day's cricket from us with the ball and now we have a partnership going we have to make sure that works.

"Obviously [losing] three wickets is not ideal but I think we are in a lot better space than we were last night [when we were dismissed for 99].

"It's going to be difficult. We are under no illusions that it's a long way but we just have to believe.

"Each individual is different in where they are at with their games but to come off tonight and have that partnership going...," said Vettori - as good a signal as any that New Zealand's hopes, if not high, still exist.

Pakistan middle-order batsman Misbah Ul Haq, who scored 33 runs but dropped a simple catch at slip off Ross Taylor towards the end of play, said batting was more difficult than it appeared.

"I don't think it's easy to bat out there and you have to be patient," he said.

"It would have been good to have a total of 500, but 400 is a good total to bowl at. We are in a good position but we have to finish it off."