NEW ZEALAND v PAKISTAN 1988-89

At Wellington, February 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Drawn. Toss: Pakistan. Scoring had been exceptionally high in the inter-provincial fixtures at the Basin Reserve - Wellington had innings of 334 for one and 448 for one in successive matches - and on another perfect pitch there, a draw was the only realistic result. Once New Zealand had batted so slowly on the opening day, scoring 229 for four off 90 overs, the scene was well and truly set. In mitigation, it needs adding that the extreme width of much of the Pakistan bowling also had something to do with this dreadfully dull draw.

Imran started with seven successive maidens, but it was the cheerful Mudassar Nazar who had both New Zealand openers back in the pavilion with only 18 runs on the board. Martin Crowe was slow, but sure, and with Jones running to 86 in 209 minutes, unseemly haste for such a grave occasion, the third wicket realised 149. Jones indulged in the hook fairly freely, and while he does not play it according to the coaching manuals, it brought him runs. New Zealanders breathed more freely when he pierced the covers with handsome strokes. On the second day, Crowe completed his tenth Test hundred - his first against Pakistan - and went on to 174 in 592 minutes, having hit sixteen boundaries and shared a partnership of 114 for the fifth wicket with his brother, Jeff. It was not Martin's most authoritative innings, but it was conscientious. A little light relief was offered late in the day when Smith, an entertaining hitter, and Chatfield, a specialist No. 11, put on 48 for the last wicket. Chatfield's 14 was his second highest in Tests and New Zealand finished the day, and their innings, with 447 made in 708 minutes, many of which were painful for the watchers. Aaqib Javed, at 16 years and 189 days the second-youngest to play in a Test match, conceded 103 runs on his début.

New Zealand's innings, however, was a mere apéritif. In a vivid demonstration, Shoaib Mohammad showed the country what scoring slowly was all about. On the third day he scored 89 in 327 minutes; on the fourth he made another 70 in a full day's play, acquiring but two singles in the hour after lunch and only ten in the complete session. In all, he batted for 720 minutes - the sixth-longest innings in Test history and the longest first-class innings in New Zealand - and hit a six and seventeen fours in his 163 from 516 balls. While he was achieving all this, Javed Miandad was an inevitable century-maker, compiling his twentieth in tests and his sixth against New Zealand as he and Shoaib added 220 for the third wicket, a record for the series. Imran was much more positive, taking 15 runs off Morrison's first over with the third new ball and hitting a lusty six off Chatfield. He declared 9 runs behind, after 70 minutes of the fifth day, leaving Hadlee, who bowled more overs than he had ever been required to bowl in a Test innings, within one wicket of his 100th five-wicket return in first-class cricket.

Batting a second time, New Zealand progressed without faltering to 107 for one. But suddenly Imran and particularly Jaffer got the ball to deviate sharply and had the batsmen in difficulty. Seven wickets fell for the addition of 73 runs, although there was never any prospect of this collapse producing a result.

Man of the Match: Imran Khan.

Close of play: First day, New Zealand 229-4 (M. D. Crowe 89*, J. J. Crowe 22*); Second day, New Zealand 447; Third day, Pakistan 205-2 (Shoaib Mohammad 89*, Javed Miandad 87*); Fourth day, Pakistan 401-4 (Shoaib Mohammad 159*, Imran Khan 52*).