Day 5: Rain Dance
Tuesday, December 23 2003
A spirited display by the Pakistani bowling attack allowed the visitors to push towards an unlikely result in the first Test before rain had the final say in the drawn match.
Resuming Day 5 at 0/4, New Zealand soon suffered their first setback of the day with the dismissal of a circumspect Lou Vincent to Mohammad Sami for just 4.
Four balls later, Stephen Fleming's dreams of repeating his first innings hundred were shattered when he edged to the energetic Moin Khan, allowing Sami his second wicket in an increasingly impressive opening burst.
Sami soon collected his third wicket following a 31 ball cameo of 20 from Scott Styris. After 15 no-balls and a wide in the first innings, fortune was finally favouring Sami.
Youngster Umar Gul, however, may very well have made the days most lasting impression with a mature spell that accounted for key batsman Mark Richardson (15) and Chris Cairns for just 0.
Reeling at 5/47, Craig McMillan became the next batsman to fall in less than impressive circumstances, run out for just 2 - ironically, by a Sami/Gul combination.
As pressure mounted upon the future of Robbie Hart, the keeper was sadly dismissed for 0, allowing for Sami to claim his fourth wicket.
First innings centurion Daniel Vettori strode to the crease and immediately made a positive impression with a solid 20.
Taufeeq Umar's smart catch delivered Sami his second Test 5-wicket haul and left the hosts at 8/95.
However, Daryl Tuffey safely negociated the remainder of Sami's over and the first ball of the next to ensure New Zealand survived until the light was offered to Tuffey and partner Jacob Oram (23*).
Needless to say, it was accepted as the gloomy Hamilton skies threatened to open and cease proceedings in a very interesting Test match - which indeed occurred, leaving the umpires no choice but to call stumps and allow play to finish as a draw.
Final Scores
New Zealand 563 (S Fleming 192, D Vettori 137*, M Richardson 44, Shabbir Ahmed 5/117)
Pakistan 463 (Moin Khan 137, Yasir Hameed 80, Inzamam-ul-Haq 51, Abdur Razzaq 48, D Tuffey 5/87)
New Zealand 8/96 (Mohammad Sami 5/44, Umar Gul 2/25)
Stumps Day 5.
Match Drawn - Series stands at 0-0 after 1 match.
Posted by Andre
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