PAKISTAN v NEW ZEALAND 1990-91

Toss: Pakistan.

Always in difficulty against Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis on a seaming pitch, New Zealand were twice dismissed for less than 200 and lacked the bowling to prevent Pakistan amassing a winning total. Put in, they managed just 45 runs in the 26 overs before lunch on the opening day, and the loss of their captain, Crowe, minutes into the afternoon session was a vital blow. Greatbatch (250 minutes) and Rutherford added 116 for the fourth wicket, with Rutherford, the dominant partner, hitting fourteen fours in a fine 79 made in three hours six minutes; but next morning Waqar and Wasim swept aside the last five wickets while 21 runs were added to the overnight score.

No further wickets fell that day as Shoaib Mohammad and Ramiz Raja took Pakistan to within 37 of New Zealand's total with a record-equalling first-wicket stand for Tests between the two countries. On the third day they increased this to 172 before Ramiz, after 287 minutes' batting and eight fours, became the first Test wicket of off-spinner Bradburn on his début. Shoaib, however, batted on and on; when Miandad declared on the fourth day, he had batted for 10 hours 55 minutes, faced 414 balls and hit 23 fours in his unbeaten 203, equalling his highest score in Tests and coincidentally equalling his father, Hanif Mohammad's personal best against New Zealand. Facing a deficit of 237, New Zealand made a poor start and never recovered. Crowe batted skilfully to take the match into the fifth day, but ten balls were all that Pakistan needed on the final morning to go one up in the series.

Man of the Match: Shoaib Mohammad.

Close of play: First day, New Zealand 175 -5 (D. N. Patel 2*, D. K. Morrison 0*); Second day, Pakistan 159-0 (Ramiz Raja 68*, Shoaib Mohammad 82*); Third day, Pakistan 386-5 (Shoaib Mohammad 175*, Salim Yousuf 1*); Fourth day, New Zealand 192-9 (M. D. Crowe 67*, W. Watson 11*).