Cricket: Kaneria back with a bang

Chest pains, hayfever, fluctuating blood pressure and a whack on the finger.

The third cricket test against New Zealand has hardly been a pain-free experience for Pakistan's most prolific spin bowler.

But for Danish Kaneria, the discomfort he has felt at McLean Park is insignificant compared to the anguish of his non-selection for the first test in Dunedin last month.

Losing out to late-blooming offspinner Saeed Ajmal was a bitter pill to swallow at University Oval given the 28-year-old sees himself as the side's senior slow bowler.

"I was really frustrated when I was not picked, I've been a wicket taker for Pakistan for a number of years," he said during a break in his seven-wicket haul in New Zealand's first innings of 471 today.

"I thought, when they give me a chance I will come back with a bang."

Kaneria might have whimpered when dropping a hard hit return catch from Daniel Vettori late yesterday when the New Zealand skipper was on 97 but he certainly justified his recall for the second test in Wellington and again here on a pitch he may enjoy even more if the hosts are set a fourth innings runchase.

Kaneria had a match analysis of seven for 176 against Sri Lanka in July, Pakistan's last test before arriving in New Zealand and figures he assumed would secure his retention.

Instead he had to watch four-test rookie Ajmal take two for 117 in Dunedin before New Zealand won by 32 runs.

The selectors turned to Kaneria in Wellington and he repaid their faith by taking a match haul of six for 80, including three for six as New Zealand were routed for 99 in their first innings.

Kaneria replaced legspinning predecessor Abdul Qadir as Pakistan's leading test wicket-taking slow bowler at the Basin Reserve when claiming his 237th victim -- and the completion of the fourth seven-wicket bag today lifted his tally 245 in 56 tests.

He currently has 13 wickets in the series at an average of 19.07, second only to fast bowler Mohammad Asif's 19 at 19.0.

Kaneria claimed the top order scalps usually associated with Asif this time -- Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill and Daniel Flynn. He also removed dangerman Ross Taylor for 21 before chipping out the tail below Daryl Tuffey.

When Tim Southee was leg before wicket for a three-ball duck he completed his 14th five-wicket bag and Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin then enhanced figures that were in danger of being marred by five dropped chances.

Kaneria finished with seven for 168 from 53 overs, a marathon effort that looked unlikely when he bowled his first over after lunch yesterday.

He appeared in serious trouble when he clutched at his chest before spread eagling on the ground.

"I had a pain in my chest because I was suffering from hayfever," he explained.

"I was taking some Nasal spray and medication and because of that my blood pressure started getting low."

With a swag of wickets just the tonic, Kaneria was optimistically eyeing the next rung on Pakistan's test wicket-taking ladder.

"I'm proud to break Abdul Qadir's record. Now my eyes are on the other legends over there."

Fast bowler Imran Khan's 362 wickets is the next target, while fellow quicks Wasim Akram (414) and Waqar Younis (373) complete the top three.

- NZPA