New Zealand v Pakistan - Third Test

McLean Park, Napier

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

Debuts: DN Patel (NZL)
Umpires: SJ Woodward & RS Dunne
Toss: New Zealand

With New Zealand still in with a chance of squaring the series after the draw in Christchurch, it was likely that a result wicket would be prepared for the third and final Test in Napier, but the pitch at McLean Park simply did not look up to Test standard. Both captains voiced their displeasure at the cracked and uneven surface, although John Reid was probably able to afford himself a private smile. For Pakistan a fit again Waqar Younis was back to terrorise New Zealand's batsmen, whilst with the pitch expected to turn later in the match, the Kiwis handed an unlikely debut to Dipak Patel.

John Reid bravely elected to bat upon winning the toss, and the pundits who predicted that 200 would be a good score on this wicket were proved right as New Zealand were bowled out for 184 inside the first day. That they got that far was largely due to Richard Hadlee, whose 59 was a great knock in the circumstances, and Dipak Patel, who batted very bravely for a gutsy 26, adding 61 for the seventh wicket with Hadlee after facing his first ball on a Fazal Mahmood hat-trick. Waqar had again been the main destroyer though, swinging the ball late to claim another five wicket haul, and the Kiwis had done well to garner as many runs as they did.

Pakistan found batting just as difficult though, and with both openers gone before stumps on day one, the tourists' innings stumbled to a shambolic 135-8 midway through the second afternoon as New Zealand's seamers took advantage of the conditions. However, with the Blackcaps on the verge of an unlikely first innings lead, Pakistan's tail wagged once more, and much to the immense frustration of the home side exactly 100 runs were added for the last two wickets as Pakistan hauled themselves into the lead. Fazal Mahmood led the fightback with a career best 41*, and with last man Waqar (28), he took part in his second consecutive 50+ tenth wicket stand, a partnership of 62 swelling Pakistan's total to 235 and a lead of 51.

The momentum was now with the tourists, and although a rollicking opening stand of 85 off 16 overs from Turner (50) and Dempster (37) threatened to return the initiative to New Zealand, a third morning collapse reduced the Kiwis to 145-6 and Pakistan were back on top in what was becoming a game of wildly fluctuating fortunes. Hadlee was still there though, and with Wadsworth somehow surviving Imran's best spell of the series, the counter-attack was launched. Hadlee threw caution to the wind, and as a succession of flashing strokes got the scoreboard moving, Pakistan started to worry. Both batsmen were dropped as the pressure built, and by the time Waqar returned to remove Hadlee's middle stump, 63 runs had been added for the seventh wicket and Hadlee had gone on to make an audacious 71 from 72 balls. Wadsworth, Boock and Cowie continued the fight until just after tea, and New Zealand's eventual total of 247 set Pakistan 197 to win with over two days' play remaining.

Hanif again went early, but with Saeed Ahmed notching his first fifty of the series, Pakistan progressed to 121-3 on the fourth morning and looked set for victory. It was now New Zealand who were feeling the pressure, and with Patel and Cowie flooring relatively simple catches to give lives to both Zaheer and Javed, the game looked up for the Kiwis. Reid now turned to spin from both ends, and almost immediately Javed hoisted one high to long off, where Richard Hadlee - who else? - finally held onto a catch for New Zealand to give Patel his first ATG wicket. There was still plenty of batting to come for Pakistan, but for some reason blind panic now set in, and the innings fell apart in spectacular fashion either side of lunch.

Boock and Patel maintained their composure, and with victory in sight Pakistan collapsed in a heap. Zaheer and Imran were both bowled playing no shot, Moin, Akram and Intikhab all perished attempting ugly mows across the line, and when Boock trapped Waqar lbw for 0 (an exact reversal of the dismissal that gave Waqar his tenth wicket in Hamilton) it was all over. Pakistan were all out for 150 and New Zealand had recorded just their fourth ever ATG victory by the margin of 46 runs. Boock finished with 3-34 and Patel wound up with the remarkable figures of 4-22 from ten overs on what had proved to be an unforgettable debut. New Zealand had come back from the dead to draw the series, and Pakistan's self-destruct act had ended their fifteen match unbeaten run. Richard Hadlee's heroics with the bat earned him a most deserved man of the match award and maybe, just maybe, there could be some light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel for New Zealand.

Scores
NZL 1st Inns 184 (Hadlee 59; Waqar Younis 5-61)
PAK 1st Inns 235 (Zaheer Abbas 42, Fazal Mahmood 41*; Hadlee 4-57)
NZL 2nd Inns 247 (Hadlee 71, Turner 50; Wasim Akram 4-70, Waqar Younis 4-83)
PAK 2nd Inns 150 (Saeed Ahmed 51; Patel 4-22)

NEW ZEALAND WON BY 46 RUNS


Man of the Match: RJ Hadlee