Farhat saves Pakistan’s blushes on O’Brien’s day

NAPIER: New Zealand were in control when play ended on the first day of the third and final Test match against Pakistan in Napier on Friday.

Pakistan were left reeling at 90-6 after captain Mohammad Yousuf won the toss and elected to bat first on a relatively flat pitch in the potentially series-deciding match.

Opener Salman Butt was the first wicket to fall for Pakistan when he was clean-bowled by Tim Southee in the fourth over of the innings. From then on, it was the Iain O’Brien swan-song show as he bowled a hostile spell of seam bowling, during which, he also crossed his regular pace barrier.

Faisal Iqbal, replacing an out-of-form Shoaib Malik, was O’Brien’s first victim when he directed a rising delivery to the slips after scoring six runs and leaving Pakistan at 39-2 in the eleventh over. Captain Yousuf, Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq soon followed Iqbal back to the pavilion without scoring a run – all victims to O’Brien’s accuracy and their own poor shot selection.

While wickets were tumbling unabated at one end, Pakistan’s out-of-sorts opener Imran Farhat held on to his wicket, utilizing what could be his last chance to cement a place for the playing eleven against Australia. He kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end, albeit not with the most free-flowing strokes.

Farhat was kept company for nearly an hour by wicket-keeper and vice-captain Kamran Akmal who, survived the O’Brien onslaught but was dismissed by Chris Martin as he went after a straightening delivery and was caught by Martin Guptill at cover point.

Mohammad Aamer then chipped in with a handy contribution of 23 runs as Farhat slogged Daniel Vettori on his way to his first Test century since November 2006. He struck 14 fours and a six (off Vettori) as he carried his bat on 117. He was also helped by Umar Gul (24) and Danish Kaneria (16) before Pakistan’s first innings ended at 223.

When New Zealand openers started their innings, they were tested by Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif but survived the impressive spells, an lbw decision that was overturned and a close run-out chance to end the day on 47/0 from 19 overs.

The Pakistani bowlers will have to make the most of the early-morning conditions tomorrow if they are to make a comeback in the match and not lose the series.

The three-match series is currently tied 1-1.