Competitive Wellington will test Pakistan on final day

Wellington ensured Pakistan had some competitive matchplay when taking a 168-run lead before declaring in their three-day match at the Basin Reserve today.

By stumps, Pakistan faced a battle heading into the last day and one wicket down for 49 runs, still 119 runs behind and Wellington's pace attack which rolled Pakistan for 175 on the first day still finding plenty in the pitch.

Imran Farhat chanced his arm along with Saleem Elahi and both played shots that went just wide of fieldsmen when they could just as easily have been catches.

It was a mixed day for the Wellington side. An outstanding second wicket partnership by Selwyn Blackmore and Grant Donaldson made light of the international attack they were facing.

They put on 121 runs in a fine display of attacking batting with their competitive spirits being unleashed in the form of some free-hitting which saw Blackmore gracefully swing into the line of the ball to put three sixes over the leg-side boundary with timing as sweet as anything seen in the game.

Donaldson, younger and brasher, pulled two sixes over the square leg boundary from the fast men Mohammad Akram and Fazl-e-Akbar.

Their stand ended in the only way it seemed possible, by a run out. It was Donaldson who departed for 60 while Blackmore batted on until just after the lunch break when he gently touched a ball from Akram to wicket-keeper Humayun Farhat to depart for 74.

That saw a much more cautious middle session of the day, dominated by debut player Rhys Morgan who, having survived a catching chance from the third ball he faced, applied himself and batted for 143 minutes and 89 balls to eventually be run out for 35, having seen three partners depart.

Wellington scored only 63 runs for three wickets during the middle session but when Morgan and Chris Nevin came out after tea, it was all on. They added 30 runs in quick time before Morgan was run out.

And then Nevin took over to register 50 off 63 balls, the milestone coming up with a six over midwicket from Arshad Khan. Another six, off leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed soared over long off.

However, the reintroduction of Fazl-e-Akbar, who had toiled with only the leg before wicket dismissal of James Franklin earlier in the afternoon, produced the breakthrough.

He had Nevin, on 67, trying to cut a ball that was too close to him and he chopped it onto his wickets. Andrew Penn came down the wicket to Mushtaq and sent the ball in the direction of Space Station Mir for a huge six.

Then in the next over Mark Jefferson was caught at mid on to give Fazl his third wicket for 75 runs, at which point the declaration was made by Richard Jones with Wellington 343/8.

Pakistan had to be pleased with the workout their bowlers got, especially late tour replacement Mohammad Akram who bowled 25 overs and took two for 103, and even moreso, Fazl-e-Akbar who had three for 75 from 24.3 overs.

Fazl asked plenty of questions of umpire Evan Watkin during the afternoon and had his reward by the end of the innings.

Mushtaq Ahmed bowled 32 overs but had only one success when having first day hero Matthew Walker out caught at mid off for 22 just when he was starting to climb into the bowling. With Hamilton's WestpacTrust Park likely to favour seam bowlers, Mushtaq's hopes of another Test on tour may have faded while the selectors face an interesting choice between Fazl and Akram for the third seamer's spot.