Umar's debut century offers Pakistan a breather on third day

Dunedin : A superb counter-attacking century on debut from Umar Akmal brought some semblance of respect to the Pakistan innings even though New Zealand held the upper hand on the third day of the first Test here yesterday.

Akmal stroked a fluent 129 with 21 fours and two sixes in his maiden effort and added 176 runs for the sixth wicket with elder brother Kamran to breathe life into the Pakistan first innings which lay in tatters at 85-5. Pakistan finished the day on 307-8, still 122 runs behind New Zealand's total of 429.

Shane Bond marked his return to Test cricket with three quick wickets to put New Zealand in control. He later removed the dangerous Umar Akmal to finish the day with 4-93.

 First innings

Chris Martin made early inroads into the Pakistan batting order by dismissing openers Khurram Manzoor (6) and Imran Farhat (22), before Bond snared Fawad Alam, captain Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik, as Pakistan slipped to 85-5 in their first innings.

But brothers Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal revived Pakistan with a spirited counter-attack. Kamran Akmal played a sedate hand while younger brother Umar stroked freely, before New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori broke the partnership.

Earlier on day three, New Zealand were bowled out for 429 after adding 25 runs to their overnight score of 404-8. Pacer Mohammad Asif, also on return, took 4-108 while Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal took two wickets each.

New Zealand, who were boosted by Ross Taylor (94) and captain Daniel Vettori (99), frustrated the Pakistan bowlers as Shane Bond and Iain O'Brien scored freely.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board has accepted captain Mohammad Yousuf's request to send senior batsman Misbah-ul Haq to New Zealand before the second Test to strengthen the squad, according to sources.

PCB had last week shot down Yousuf's request to send Misbah to New Zealand before the first Test in Dunedin which began on Tuesday.

Misbah to fly in

But, sources now said board chairman Ejaz Butt and chief selector Iqbal Qasim have given the nod for Misbah to fly to New Zealand after the batting collapse by the team in the first Test.

"They are keeping it under wraps for the moment but indications are that Misbah would fly to New Zealand in next two-three days before the second Test starts in Wellington on December 2," one source said.

When contacted, Butt confirmed the proposal to send Misbah to New Zealand but insisted nothing was final as yet.