NEW ZEALAND v PAKISTAN 1992-93

At Hamilton, January 2, 3, 4, 5. Pakistan won by 33 runs. Toss: New Zealand.

Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis swept Pakistan to victory on the fourth afternoon with a never-to-be-forgotten display of sustained, hostile fast bowling. Set only 127 to win, with more than two days remaining, New Zealand were 39 for three overnight. Rain delayed the resumption until the early afternoon, when the two pace bowlers attacked continuously for two hours to dismiss them for 93.

After 40 minutes without a wicket, Javed Miandad was about to turn to Mushtaq Ahmed's spin, then decided to give Waqar another chance. Jones turned the next delivery firmly to the on side, Asif Mujtaba at short leg thrust a hand to his left and the ball stuck. Wasim and Waqar took the last seven wickets for 28, overwhelming New Zealand with their pace and swing on a pitch on which the occasional delivery came through low. When Waqar bowled Harris it was his 100th wicket in his 20th Test.

Wright, omitted from the one-day squad, had broken a finger after being recalled, and Crowe also damaged a finger while fielding at Auckland - two experienced, in-form batsmen badly missed in a low-scoring match. Rutherford deputised as captain. After losing his fourth consecutive toss and watching Pakistan lose three for 12, Miandad batted responsibly for 221 minutes. He was skittled eight short of his century by left-armer Su'a, who returned his best international figures. Gaining considerable swing at fast-medium pace, he despatched Ramiz Raja with his third delivery and removed four of Pakistan's top six.

Greatbatch and Hartland began the reply at half past four on Saturday and were not separated before two o'clock the next day. Hartland's courage was more admirable than his technique against the bouncers that repeatedly struck his helmet - "like being kicked in the head by a horse," he said. But Sunday was dominated by what seemed to be a match winning hundred from Greatbatch. He batted for seven hours with characteristic pugnacity, unwilling to be tied down and skilful on his feet for one of his solid build. His best shot was a magnificent on-driven boundary off Wasim. Greatbatch's achievement was the greater against such fine bowling; once Mushtaq had Hartland stumped, the other four main batsmen struggled 99 minutes for 24 runs between them. Only Parore, eking out 16 in 113 minutes, offered any sense of security.

Pakistan kept New Zealand's lead to 48, but when Su'a removed Miandad again, just after noon on the second day, it was five down for 39 - still nine runs behind. The other four wickets went to Morrison, including Aamir Sohail first ball. Bowling genuinely fast, Morrison launched into a sequence of performances that carried him through the next series against Australia. Less than ten months earlier, Inzamam-Ul-Haq's batting had ended New Zealand's World Cup run. So far he had offered no encore. But on the third afternoon he contributed 75 runs, which looked at the time like brave defiance. When he was 39 there came the moment which, combined with Mujtaba's catch next day, decided the Test. Rutherford, at short mid-wicket, dived and took Inzamam, but the ball was jogged out of his grasp as his elbow hit the ground. Needing 127, New Zealand lost both openers and night-watchman Morrison that evening, all to Wasim. Next day he and Waqar completed their improbable victory.

There had been volleys of none-too-cheery banter throughout the match; most of it seemed to come from Pakistanis, though Patel, at short leg, obviously baited Rashid Latif on the third afternoon. At the end of a tense day's play referee Peter Burge issued a statement warning both teams against sledging.

Man of the Match: Wasim Akram.

Close of play: First day, New Zealand 23-0 (M. J. Greatbatch 8*, B. R. Hartland 7*); Second day, New Zealand 256-8 (A. C. Parore 16*); Third day, New Zealand 39-3 (A. H. Jones 11*, A. C. Parore 0*).