The frightening pace of the Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar, overwhelmed the New Zealanders in the secong Test at Wellington for a small total of 103 and even though the hosts had taken a huge lead of 170 on the basis of the 1st innings scores of the two sides it was Shoaib Akhtar who made the difference in the two sides. Pakistan thus won the Test by seven wickets and carried away the series by 1-0 to the satifaction of the supporters of this country here and in the Oceania.
With rhythmical and long run he let loose his thunder and lightning, which caused catastrophe in the New Zealand batting line, which folded for their second lowest total in the series. They had crashed for a mere 96 in the first Test when youngster Mohammad Sami had created havoc amongst the Kiwi batsmen with his wondrous effort of fast bowling. The Basin Reserve strip was flat yet Shoaib's arms were a revolving menace in the second Test giving the Kiwi batsmen little chance to counter his terrifying yorkers, having controlled length. It was a different Shoaib at Wellington, who did not send long hops but was exhibiting the ability of inswinging the ball and making the deliveries dip viciously and awkwardly. Even the most technically equipped batsmen could not have coped with the whirlwind that was Shoaib on Monday. It can without doubt be said that had Shoaib been fit at Hamilton his combination with Sami would have annihilated the Kiwis in the first Test and Pakistan would had entered the Wellington venue with their noses in front.
The Pakistan coach, Javed Miandad, had lambasted the home outfit for their delaying tactics as bad light and rain conspired to rob Pakistan of a clear-cut victory when Sami had become a nasty customer.
The series win also proved that the Pakistani outfit is head and shoulders above the New Zealand side even though many had thought that on their own venues Pakistan's successes were recorded against a 'B' team, having been depleted by the absence of seven regular and experienced players.
Many are forgiving the mistake of captain Inzamam on the fourth day when he left the field without thinking that eight overs and half an hour were still left for the day's play. There was enough visibility on the Wellington field. There were warnings of thunderstorm the next day.
After two rain delays and disruptions Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana were lucky to resume under what was blinding sunshine and struck off the needed 28 runs in four overs, giving little chance to the critics to point out the captain's blunder a day earlier. All's well that ends well.
In was a splendid retrieval by Pakistan after an unimpressive batting display in the first knock. Pacer Butler may have done well with a haul of six for 46. There was precision in his bowling but where was Butler in Pakistan's second venture. The Pakistani batsmen steadily and serenely advanced to the target. Even Yasir Hameed revealed his displayed usual batting standard.
The New Zealanders were so much shaken by their batting collapse that in bowling and fielding they appeared to be wayward.
For the better part of the first Test New Zealand were the dominant side; their batsmen hammered Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the ground to score 563. Captain Stephen Fleming cheerfully hit 192. Even Daniel Vettori, a lower order player, struck a century to set a record of 125 for the eighth wicket against Pakistan, beating the 100 made by Bryan Yuile and Dayle Hadlee in Karachi in 1969.
"My home ground makes the score a bit special", said the 24-year-old all rounder Vettori.
On the fourth day Moin Khan saved the blushes of the Pakistani players with a clean-hit 137 to steer the team out of danger of following-on and defeat.
Then it was all Sami on the fifth day with vicious, swing fast attack. The first principles of pace bowling were no doubt followed but then the wiry lad, with springing strides, caused the deliveries to move diagonally and dangerously to the discomfiture of the New Zealand batsmen whose wickets fell like ninepins. Sami's heavy artillery, with a wonderful bag of five wickets for 44, polishing off the upper order of New Zealand, took Pakistan nearer an unexpected victory.
However, the New Zealanders escaped with a draw when bad light stopped play shortly after tea.
Sami had taken no wicket for 126 runs in the first knock, conceding 15 no-balls but in the second innings he was unplayable with his bolts almost making the home batsmen quiver in their shoes. In the second venture his immaculate length, fine control and fiery deliveries paid the dividends and almost turned the wheel of the match Pakistan's way had not Vettori, Oram and Tuffey persisted with their rescue mission and a final downpour and bad light put an early end to the drawn match.
On to the limited-overs tussles where Pakistan appears to be odds-on favourite. One hopes Aamir Sohail, the selectors chief, ends his tiff with coach Miandad and captain Inzamam.
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