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Ross Taylor - Source: Photosport -
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Martin Guptill's maiden Test 50 and a near century by Ross
Taylor could not alleviate another fragile New Zealand batting
performance as Pakistan ruled day one of the first cricket test
here on Tuesday.
Guptill's 60 in his sixth test and Taylor's 94 at least allowed New
Zealand to post a middling 276 for six at University Oval though
both trudged to the pavilion unfulfilled.
New Zealand's only effective strokemakers were also the architects
of their own demise, and when Taylor exited with the score on 192
early in the final session, Pakistan swooped in to prey on a
patched-up middle order until Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum
added an unbroken 65 for the seventh wicket.
See full day one scorecard here
The critical absence of an injured Jesse Ryder was soon apparent
when Peter Fulton and Grant Elliott made little impression on their
recalls as Mohammad Asif celebrated his first test cap in more two
years by dislodging both in four balls.
Fulton managed an unconvincing 29 before he playing onto his stumps
while Elliott, an automatic choice in ODIs, is still seeking double
figures after unremarkable six test innings.
He laboured for 33 balls for eight, an ordeal ended when he tamely
edged to Kamran Akmal's gloves.
Vettori almost had Asif eyeing a hat-trick when he edged just short
of Imran Farhat at first slip.
Fortunately the captain survived to bat on Wednesday. He resumes on
40 while McCullum is on 25, having successfully referred a leg
before wicket decision to third umpire Rudi Koertzen after he was
given out by Simon Taufel with two balls remaining.
Missed opportunity
Earlier Taylor rued a missed opportunity to compile his fifth test
ton when Saeed Ajmal coaxed him into a loose waft to first slip,
mirroring a shot that failed to make contact in the offspinner's
previous over.
He tossed and caught his bat in despair when Farhat's safe hands
ended a 174-ball vigil that included 13 boundaries and a six.
Guptill was also slow on the uptake, his compulsive desire to pull
taking some sheen from his achievement.
He twice had a reprieve on 26 when a spar to the slips cordon hit a
slow-reacting Farhat on the forehead. Then, 17 dot balls later, he
could not resist a swipe at Mohammad Aamer though fortunately the
ball passed through a sleepy Gul at fine leg and cleared the
rope.
There was rarely a false shot from the 23-year-old after that, just
a collection of crisp boundaries, the ninth of which brought up his
fifty from 100 deliveries.
But 10 runs later he succumbed when Aamer dug one in short; the
ball ballooned off the top of the blade and a retreating Fawad Alam
grasped a skier at square leg.
Vindicated
Guptill and Taylor added 117 for the third wicket, a necessary
stand after Mohammad Yousuf's option to bowl after winning the toss
was instantly vindicated.
Aamer was on the mark immediately, a full-pitched delivery - the
first of the morning - beating Tim McIntosh for pace and cannoning
onto leg stump via the toe of his bat.
Daniel Flynn (8) was the other casualty before lunch when
Asif made his first strike and Akmal took his first catch off
an inside edge.
At 27 for two inside six overs New Zealand were in a familiar
predicament, though Guptill and Taylor at least mounted a partially
successful rescue mission.
Guptill was expansive early before buttoning off. In contrast
Taylor began cautiously - his first two runs took 23 deliveries -
before he accelerated after the lunch break.
He motored from 19 to his sixth test fifty in quick time from a
mere 29 balls - and 97 in all - as Ajmal was deposited over the
square leg fence and Gul was finally collared after his first six
overs yielded a solitary single.
Taylor had one anxious moment on 54 when Pakistan referred a failed
leg before wicket appeal by Asif to Koertzen after Billy Doctrove
was unmoved.
It was the first time the ICC's decision review system was employed
- and after a short consultation with new ball tracking technology
Koertzen would not overturn Doctrove's decision.
Despite that disappointment Asif ended with the leading figures of
three for 76 while 17-year-old Aamer had two for 62.
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