Cricket: Top order problems again but NZ fight back

NZ batsman Jesse Ryder cracks a shot away during the afternoon session of the first test being played between New Zealand and Pakistan at Seddon Park in Hamilton. Photo / Alan Gibson

A new coach, a new year, but some old problems for New Zealand to address after the top-order failed on day one of the first cricket test against Pakistan at Seddon Park here today.

New coach John Wright had emphasised the need for the top six to bat time and score heavily in the first innings, so he will be bitterly disappointed tonight as he reflects on a day that saw the hosts fall behind on points at 260 for seven.

New Zealand have nobody to blame other than themselves, and perhaps impressive Pakistan left-arm sipnner Abdur Rehman, who was almost made to look unplayable in sending down 29 overs unchanged from the southern end - he bowled 30 in total - that yielded the worthy figures of three for 51.

Certainly the pitch contains no demons and the ease at which Kane Williamson, who is unbeaten on 44 in his first test on home soil, and Tim Southee, with some classy shots and eight fours in 56 not out, his second test half century, have scored 83 runs in a fighting eighth-wicket partnership suggests batting is not onerous.

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill, who scored 50, was hopeful Southee and Williamson would push on tomorrow as New Zealand a respectable total.

"It's a good wicket, it's quite flat and a little bit slow but you've got to work for your runs if you bowl in the right areas so hopefully Timmy and Kane can go out and get us another 50 runs or so for a competitive-ish score," he said, declaring that Pakistan were "slightly" ahead after day one.

"We could have done with a couple more wickets in hand but hopefully Kane and Timmy can get us more into the game tomorrow."

Guptill said the team were disappointed with their mid-innings collapse, which saw the loss of six wickets for 85 runs.

"We lost our way after lunch with a few wickets ... we've got to go out tomorrow and try and get as many runs as we can, and try our best to bowl them out."

Although Pakistan won the toss and bowled, New Zealand made it through the most difficult period for batting and went to lunch at 78 for one as the tourists' decision appeared to have backfired.

As it turned out, they were spot on, but instead it was the post-lunch session, when the deck flattened out and the skies had cleared, when they made serious inroads as the hosts wilted under the sustained pressure of Rehman, who received good support from pacemen Umar Gul (one for 78) and Tanvir Ahmed (two for 54).

Having looked good in reaching 56, albeit fortuitously, Brendon McCullum's dismissal started New Zealand's concerns after they had been cruising at 92 for one.

McCullum came out firing after lunch but the ball after smacking Gul over midwicket for his second six, he sliced a wide delivery directly to Azhar Ali at deep point. The Otago batsman, who had some luck on 34 when he was given not out by Australian umpire Rod Tucker despite clearly gloving a pull shotto wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, was visibly furious at himself.

New Zealand had some bad luck - Jesse Ryder was run out for 22 backing up too far at the non striker's end and debutant wicketkeeper Reece Young was adjudged leg before wicket by Australian umpire Daryl Harper for 14 when Rehman's delivery appeared to hit him outside off stump - but so, too, did Pakistan, particularly in the morning session when edges failed to go to hand and McCullum got the favourable decision from Tucker.

Guptill's wicket, on the stroke of tea, was key for Pakistan. Guptill had battled for nearly four hours and faced 164 balls in getting to 50 before lobbing a waist high full toss from Rehman straight to cover, a weak end to what had been a stoic and disciplined innings and one which saw the hosts go to tea at 160 for five and with their lower order again asked to score runs.

The unerring accuracy of Rehman was prominent throughout the afternoon. At one point he rolled down five consecutive maiden overs and he also spun the odd ball quite markedly, a rare sight on the first day of a Seddon Park test.

- NZPA