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Brotherly love: The Akmal brothers embrace - Source: Reuters -
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Mum's prayers were answered despite precocious teenager Umar Akmal disregarding her advice as he became Pakistan's latest test centurion on debut at University Oval here.
Umar, 19, cracked a carefree 129 from 160 balls as Pakistan ended day three of the first test 122 runs adrift of New Zealand's first innings of 429.
They resume on Friday on 307 for eight.
The gulf would have been wider had Umar and his elder brother Kamran not combined to add a vital 176 for the sixth wicket, a stand that threatened to see both siblings record three figures.
Kamran eventually departed for 82, two balls after Umar became the 11th Pakistani to mark his first test innings in the best possible style.
After guiding Pakistan back from the brink, Umar revealed a pre-match pep talk with his mother in Lahore served as inspiration - even if he ignored a key message.
"She said she will be praying for him and she hoped he would score some runs. She told him to just relax and take it easy - but he didn't listen to her," said Pakistan team manager - and translator - Intikhab Alam.
Umar made light of Pakistan's predicament of 85 for five when joined by Kamran and rather than `take it easy' he batted like a young man possessed - 42 of his half century were shots to or over the ropes.
He also raced through the nineties, with 14 runs from three scoring shots carting him from 87 to 101.
He crunched 21 boundaries and a pair of sixes in his 129 with the confidence of a more mature strokemaker.
"We were in a lot of trouble at 85 for five but the good thing about this youngster is he never gets under pressure. He plays his own natural game," Intikhab enthused.
"It was his dream come true to make a hundred on his debut.
"I feel very proud of him, he's a very exciting cricketer actually.
"It's only four months ago he went to Australia with the Pakistan A side; he got 300 there.
"Then we were touring Sri Lanka. We got him over there (in July) and he got a (one-day) hundred there and now he's gets a hundred at the first opportunity.
"He's a very hard working, very dedicated young person, a very exciting cricketer. We are very lucky to have him in the side, he has a great future for Pakistan," Intikhab said.
Although Shane Bond was twice denied Umar's wicket on 15, the veteran was happy to claim him in the deep in the end - the final wicket of an analysis that provisionally reads four for 93 from 24 overs.
Not a bad return for the 34-year-old who was playing his first test in two years.
"It was good. I probably didn't expect to bowl 24 overs but the body felt good through the whole day."
His comeback was highlighted by a three-wicket burst in 10 balls during his second stint.
"Things went my way in that spell, overall it was a pretty good day for me."
