wow what a difference a day can make........
a second 2nd innings batting collapse in this series by NZ - both precipitated by the Pakistani quicks being able to pitch the ball up and get it to swing late at pace...........
Shoaib today & Sami at Hamilton on this tour, Sami did the same on the last tour, and both Wasim & Waqar b4 them, let alone Shoaib's performances in Pakistan over the last couple of seasons!
The NZ batsmen had no answer as they do not encounter anything remotely like this swing or pace in local domestic cricket, similarly the NZ bowlers were unable to reproduce any hint of the swing obtained by the Pakistani bowlers.
It was unusual to see Richardson slash at a widish delivery, but Styris played a terrible shot first up, and then McMillan ran out Tuffey with a very suicidal call! Oram was never comfortable after being struck on the hand first ball, and then McMillan further complicated the issue by not making any attempt to protect the tail & try to see Ahktar off!
The NZ attack were then guilty of bowling short of a good length allowing the Pakistani batsmen plenty of time to play the ball off the back foot.
With only some 28 runs required by Pakistan to win & re write the record books at the Basin re 4th innings totals, the writing appears on the wall for NZ and they will be praying for rain to save them again!!!