PAKISTAN v NEW ZEALAND 1955-56

Toss: New Zealand. Test debuts: N.S.Harford, E.C.Petrie.

Pakistan made sure of the rubber in a series of three Tests, after a splendidly fought match which produced an exciting finish. On a perfect turf pitch, New Zealand lost four wickets for 76, but McGregor and Harford, playing in his first Test, mastered the bowling. Blending sound defence with good attacking strokes, they added 150. Harford, who batted three and a half hours, hit eleven 4s. McGregor, making his first Test century, stayed five hours forty minutes, and hit twelve 4s. By the end of the second day Pakistan had lost five men for 87, but after a day's rest they recovered dramatically. Imtiaz Ahmed and Waqar Hassan, both batting brilliantly, added 308 for the seventh wicket, a record stand for Pakistan for any wicket in a Test match. Both men passed the previous highest Test score for their country, and the total was also a Pakistan record. Imtiaz Ahmed batted six and a half hours and hit twenty-eight 4s. Despite their heavy arrears, New Zealand batted briskly in their second innings, and they gave Pakistan a worrying battle against the clock before the match ended in an atmosphere of tense excitement.