CRICKET: News round-up: New Zealand escaped with a draw against Pakistan in the first Test of their two-match series in Hamilton yesterday when bad light stopped play after tea on the fifth day, with the hosts struggling on 96 for eight.
Once the players left the field, rain began to fall and the covers were put on, spoiling Pakistan's push for a late, if unlikely, victory.
After the first session of the day was lost to rain, the sides were given a total of 75 overs to bowl and Pakistan wasted little time putting the hosts under pressure with fast bowler Mohammad Sami leading the attack.
When the bad light came, Sami had taken five for 44, with Daniel Vettori his last victim, brilliantly caught at second slip by Taufeeq Umar for 20 leaving the home side with a lead of 196 runs with two wickets and 35.5 overs remaining.
Vettori, a century-maker in New Zealand's first innings of 563, had shared in a potentially match-saving partnership of 43 with Jacob Oram.
When New Zealand resumed their second innings with a lead of 104, the chances of any result other than a draw seemed remote. However, Sami removed Lou Vincent (4), Stephen Fleming (0), Scott Styris (20), Robbie Hart (0) and Vettori as well as throwing a return over Moin Khan's stumps to run out Craig McMillan for two.
Meanwhile England could find out in February if they will not have to tour strife-torn Zimbabwe next year.
England are set to visit Zimbabwe in October but the England and Wales Cricket Board are to review the itinerary when their management board meet at the end of February.
Overnight: Pakistan 463 (Moin Khan 137, Yasir Hameed 80, Inzamam-ul-Haq 51; D R Tuffey 5-87). New Zealand 563 (S P Fleming 192, D L Vettori 137 no; Shabbir Ahmed 5-117) and 4-0.
New Zealand Second Innings
M H Richardson c M Khan b Umar Gul 15
L Vincent c I Farhat b Mohammad Sa 4
S P Fleming c M Khan b Mohammad Sami 0
S B Styris c T Umar b Mohammad Sa 20
C D McMillan run out 2
C L Cairns b Umar Gul 0
J D P Oram not out 23
R G Hart b Mohammad Sami 0
D L Vettori c T Umar b Mohammad Sa 20
D R Tuffey not out 1
Extras lb4 w1 nb6 pens 0 11
Total 8 wkts (41.1 overs) ... 96
Fall: 1-13 2-13 3-42 4-42 5-42 6-47 7-52 8-95
Did Not Bat: I G Butler.
Bowling: Mohammad Sami 16 4 44 5; Shabbir Ahmed 10 7 10 0; Umar Gul 8.1 2 25 2; Danish Kaneria 4 2 6 0; Abdul Razzaq 3 1 7 0.
New Zealand drew with Pakistan
