Pakistan remain in control of the Hamilton Test, but did not have things entirely their own way on the second day.
Match Summary.
New Zealand were bowled out quickly on the second morning, their last three wickets adding just 15 to their overnight total. Chasing 275, Pakistan lost Mohammed Hafeez to the third ball of the innings, but came back to be 235-4 at the close.
Pakistan's Performance:
Taufeeq's fifty will be very welcome. Pakistan have struggled to find a partner for Hafeez since Salman Butt was suspended and if he can show some reliability in the position the job should be his for a long time. Later, captain Misbah-ul-Haq played the anchor role to perfection as the innings was rebuilt. With him, Asad Shafiq played like a veteran, taking the attack to the New Zealanders and being unbeaten on 74 at the close, with Misbah on 50.New Zealand’s Performance:
The swift dismissal in the morning was not unexpected, but they then failed to capitalise upon the early wicket of Hafeez and allowed opener Taufeeq Umar to reach his first Test fifty for almost eight years. After lunch they bowled much better and removed both Azhar Ali and the dangerous Younis Khan to injudicious shots. The thing that will have pleased them most, though, was that on a pitch that is becoming increasingly easy to bat on, they restricted the Pakistani run rate and prevented them from establishing a lead by the close of play.
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