Cricket: Tuffey bowls them over with the bat

Daryl Tuffey sailed past his previous test best of 35, scored six years ago. Photo / Getty Images

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Hard work paid off for Daryl Tuffey against Pakistan yesterday - with the bat this time.

Tuffey made a successful return to test cricket with the ball in the second test at Wellington last week, and he came within a few solid blows of a memorable maiden test hundred at McLean Park yesterday.

The big fast-medium bowler was left 80 not out as New Zealand ran up 471 in their first innings.

He shared important partnerships of 87 with Dan Vettori for the seventh wicket and 62 with Iain O'Brien for the eighth before O'Brien and last man Chris Martin departed within five balls.

Tuffey has sailed way past his previous test best 35 six years ago against Pakistan - as part of a 99-run ninth wicket stand with Vettori at Hamilton - and was nine shy of his best first-class score, 89 not out for Auckland against Wellington in 1999-00.

"I've always known I can occupy the crease. I've probably let myself down in the past, under-performed and under-achieved," Tuffey said last night.

"I was disappointed with my performance down in Wellington. I worked hard in the nets and it kind of paid off. A century would have been nice but I'm pretty happy with how I struck it and I didn't give it away."

Today he'll need to do the business with the ball, as New Zealand chase 10 Pakistan wickets on a flat batting strip.

"The game is in the balance at the moment. We need a big first session tomorrow."

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam praised his openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat for their unbroken 128-run stand yesterday and said the first task was getting a further 120 runs to draw level with New Zealand.

"If you are sensible and show a lot of patience I think you can survive on this pitch," he said."That showed if you use your crust and stay at the wicket the runs will come."

He pointed to the seven-wicket first innings hero, legspinner Danish Kaneria, as a possible key figure.

"The only spinner who can get much out of it is the wrist spinner. On the fifth day, who knows, it will be very interesting."David Leggat