New Zealand v Pakistan - Second Test

Lancaster Park, Christchurch

NZL: GM Turner, CS Dempster, BE Congdon, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, *JR Reid, RJ Hadlee, +KJ Wadsworth, J Cowie, SL Boock, DK Morrison.
PAK: Hanif Mohammad, Saeed Anwar, Saeed Ahmed, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, *Imran Khan, +Moin Khan, Wasim Akram, Intikhab Alam, Sarfraz Nawaz, Fazal Mahmood.

Debuts: CS Dempster (NZL)
Umpires: FR Goodall & BL Aldridge
Toss: New Zealand

After the record breaking events in Hamilton, there was always a danger that the second Test would be something of an anti-climax, and when the man himself, Waqar Younis, was ruled out of this match with a finger injury, there were mixed feelings amongst the fee-paying public in Christchurch. However, despite (or perhaps because of) the absence of the ten wicket man, we were treated to an excellent game of cricket nonetheless.

John Reid won the toss and elected to bat, perhaps a brave decision given the humid conditions and New Zealand's dismal showing with the bat in the first Test, and when the Kiwis slumped to 56-4 shortly after lunch, history seemed to be repeating itself. The recalled Martin Donnelly was still there though, and under his stewardship New Zealand began one of the most tenacious fightbacks in their history. 52 runs were added with Reid (29), then Hadlee passed 1000 career runs during a wonderfully fluent 76 (having been dropped on 6 by Moin) as 127 runs were added for the sixth wicket. Donnelly too was missed, floored on 53 by Imran off Sarfraz, and on the second day the Kiwi left hander made sure that Pakistan paid the full price for their profligacy.

With Donnelly at the helm, the Blackcaps extended their innings from 244-6 at the close on day one to 485-9 at stumps on the second day, Donnelly's share finally coming to 208, a national record. In all he batted for 607 minutes, faced 399 balls and struck 16 fours and two sixes, but mere statistics cannot describe the importance of his innings to New Zealand cricket. He added 98 with Wadsworth (51), equalling New Zealand's record partnership for the seventh wicket, and then a remarkable stand with Boock realised 124 runs for the ninth wicket, equalling the world record set by Davidson and Lillee in the very first ATG Test of all, before Donnelly was eventually out, caught behind off Fazal, who got through a mammoth 48 overs on his way to his best Test figures. Boock recorded his first ever fifty before Reid declared, and from the position of 56-4 New Zealand had fought back wonderfully well.

However, on a pitch that was still true, Pakistan then set about making a statement of their own over the next day and a half. First, Saeed Anwar cracked his second ATG hundred as he and Hanif posted 140 for the first wicket then, after a mini-collapse from the middle order, Zaheer and the ebullient Moin both contributed half centuries as Pakistan passed 300 with only five wickets down. When Zaheer fell to the disappointing Cowie for 65 close to stumps on day three, Pakistan were 322-6, and it was at this stage that Wasim Akram entered the arena to play one of the most remarkable innings in ATG history.

When Moin fell to Morrison for 58, Pakistan were 399-7 and still 86 runs in arrears, and this became 400-8 when Intikhab was caught behind off Reid for 0, but it was at this point that Akram decided to cut loose and throw caution to the wind. He had already passed 50 at this stage, but now the runs flowed in a torrent and the Kiwis were simply swept away. 22 runs came from one Morrison over, including three consecutive sixes, and Akram's second ATG hundred when it came had taken an even 100 balls. 74 runs were added with Sarfraz (18) for the ninth wicket, a national record, and another national record was set for the tenth wicket as Akram and Fazal put on 68 before Fazal was bowled by the persistent Morrison for 12. Akram was left undefeated on 163, struck off just 169 balls and including 15 fours and five sixes, and Pakistan's total of 542 - their second highest ever - had given them a lead of 57 with four sessions of play remaining in the match.

A draw now looked to be the only possible outcome, but when New Zealand lost three wickets for six runs to slip to 97-5 on the last morning, it was sweaty palms time in the Kiwi camp. However, Donnelly and Hadlee stepped up to the plate again, and a partnership of 86 for the sixth wicket calmed the nerves. Hadlee went for 48, but Donnelly passed 50, and with Wadsworth also digging in, New Zealand were able to make their way to safety and the haven of a draw. This was a very good result for the Blackcaps after their pasting in the first Test, and with Donnelly restored to the colours their batting now looks to have more backbone. However, the Kiwis' bowling attack still looks impotent when the pitch is offering no assistance, and whilst this remains the case one cannot see New Zealand winning on a regular basis any time soon.

Scores
NZL 1st Inns 485-9 dec. (Donnelly 208, Hadlee 76, Boock 51*, Wadsworth 51; Fazal Mahmood 6-120)
PAK 1st Inns 542 (Wasim Akram 163*, Saeed Anwar 122, Zaheer Abbas 65, Moin Khan 58, Hanif Mohammad 42)
NZL 2nd Inns 275 (Donnelly 72, Turner 54, Hadlee 48; Fazal Mahmood 4-80)
PAK 2nd Inns 14-1

MATCH DRAWN

Man of the Match: MP Donnelly