Martin Guptill rode his luck as Pakistani fielding lapses spared New Zealand from a potentially disastrous opening to the first cricket test at University Oval in Dunedin today.
Guptill was dropped twice on 26 before the elegant right-hander zoned in on his maiden test half century.
At lunch on the opening day New Zealand were 75 for two, with the opener on 46 and Ross Taylor not out on a sedate 19.
Mohammad Yousuf's decision to bowl in bright, blustery conditions was vindicated by the first ball of the match when 17-year-old paceman Mohammad Aamer beat Tim McIntosh for pace before a full-pitched delivery cannoned off the toe of the bat and on to leg stump.
A wicket down one ball into the test, New Zealand were immediately consigned to damage control mode, though Guptill initially sought to play as expansively as ever.
Undeterred by the early setback, Guptill welcomed Mohammad Asif's return to test cricket for the first time in more than two years with crisp boundaries through cover and midwicket.
New Zealand recorded a quartet of boundaries off the first three overs as they refused to be bogged down by the accuracy of Aamer and Asif but Daniel Flynn's inside edge to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal ensured the tourists maintained the upper hand.
Flynn departed for eight - two boundaries from 14 balls - a delivery after he justifiably survived a confident leg before wicket appeal.
But Asif, who last played a test against South Africa at Lahore in October 2007, marked his return with a beauty that nipped off the seam and flicked Flynn's bat as he played away from his body.
Taylor, the batting mainstay with Jesse Ryder absent injured, made a circumspect beginning, taking 23 balls for his first two runs as Aamer, Asif and Umar Gul maintained a tight line and length.
Guptill, still seeking his maiden test fifty in his 10 innings, enjoyed his first massive let off when he sparred a lifting Gul delivery through Imran Farhat's hands - and on to his forehead - at first slip before the ball fell safely.
The right-hander retreated into his shell after the reprieve, facing 18 scoreless deliveries before he could not resist an impetuous aerial pull shot - so often the cause of his downfall during his six-test career.
Fortunately for the 23-year-old, Gul misjudged what should have been a regulation catch at fine leg, the ball flying through his fingertips and clearing the rope. Aamer was the luckless bowler.
At the interval Guptill had faced 85 balls, with eight reaching the fence. Taylor had a trio of boundaries in his 68-ball vigil.
Aamer had one for 32 from nine overs; Asif one for 36 from 10.
SCOREBOARD at lunch, first day.
New Zealand
First innings
T McIntosh b Aamer 0
M Guptill not out 46
D Flynn c K Akmal b Asif 8
R Taylor not out 19
Extras (2lb) 2
Total (for 2 wkts, 28 overs) 75
Fall: 0 (McIntosh), 27 (Flynn)
Bowling: M Aamer 9-2-32-1, M Asif 10-1-36-1, U Gul 6-5-1-0, S Ajmal 3-1-4-0.
- NZPA
Cricket test: NZ regroup after early setbacks
Mohammad Aamer of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of Tim McIntosh. Photo / Getty Images
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