Pakistan were 307-8 at stumps on the third day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at University Oval in Dunedin, a first innings deficit of 122. Umar Akmal, 19, top scored with 129 - the 11th Pakistani to make a hundred on debut - while Shane Bond marked his return to test cricket with 4-93 from 24 overs.
Umar's elder brother Kamran made 82 as the pair added 176 for the sixth wicket. Mohammad Aamer (12) and Mohammad Asif (0) continue batting tomorrow. Pakistan rallied in the afternoon session, with brothers Umar and Kamran Akmal leading the revival. The pair came together with Pakistan reeling at 85-5 and put on 176 for the sixth wicket, with Kamran Akmal making 82 before being caught by Ross Taylor off Daniel Vettori with the score at 261.
Debutant Umar Akmal reached 129 before he was caught by Peter Fulton in the deep, to become Shane Bond's fourth victim of the innings. Pakistan were 293-7 nearing stumps on day three. A fired up Shane Bond helped New Zealand continue to put the heat on Pakistan in the cricket Test in Dunedin.
Bond marked his return to Test cricket with three wickets from a fiery spell in the middle session of the third. That left Pakistan 160-5 in reply to New Zealand's first innings total of 429. The quick bowlers were enjoying the spoils on a good wicket still offering them some help.
Chris Martin claimed both wickets to have the tourists 43-2 just before lunch. But it was Bond who provided the breakthrough in dramatic fashion in the middle session. He had Mohammad Yousuf mistime a drive back to him. Bond dived forward and low to haul in the catch. He then showed the value of his pace as he had the troublesome Fawad Alam caught behind and immediately cleaned out Shoaib Malik.
Earlier the Black Caps had resumed their first innings at 404-8 but lost their two remaining wickets in the first 40 minutes. Shane Bond was out for 22, caught behind off the bowling of Mohammad Asif. Martin lasted just five balls before he was dismissed for yet another duck, lbw to Saeed Ajmal. Iain O'Brien was left 13 not out.
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