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Pakistan crush Kiwis after Shoaib blitz
LAHORE: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar took a career-best six for 11 as Pakistan crushed New Zealand by an innings and 324 runs on the third day of the first Test on Friday.
The Kiwis, skittled for 73 in the morning after resuming of 58 for six, followed on a massive 570 runs behind but struggled again despite the absence of Shoaib with a swollen ankle during their second innings.
Lou Vincent and skipper Stephen Fleming, who top-scored with 66, made battling half-centuries but the tourists crumbled from 186 for three to 246 all out as 14 wickets tumbled during the day.
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria took five for 110 in the second innings. Inzamam-ul-Haq had scored 329, the 10th highest individual score in Test history, in Pakistan's innings.
Pakistan, who won the one-day series 3-0, are chasing their first home series win in four years. The second and final Test in Karachi starts on Wednesday.
May 03, 2002 - 0930 GMT
New Zealand post 140 at tea
LAHORE: New Zealand, struggling to make Pakistan bat again by scoring 570, had scored 140 runs for the loss of three wickets when the stumps were drawn at the tea interval on the third day of the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Skipper Stephen Fleming was batting on 21, punctuated with three boundaries off 65 deliveries and Chris Harris was playing on 21 scored with the help of one hit to the fence off 62 balls.
Lou Vincent who scored a patient half-century and Fleming added 32 runs for the third wicket before getting out to Danish Kaneria.
Wicketkeeper Rashid Latif took three catches to play his due role in all the three dismissals that took place during the day.
May 03, 2002 - 0645 GMT
New Zealand struggling to avoid innings defeat
LAHORE: New Zealand were desperately struggling to avoid a humiliating innings defeat in the first Test, and were 78 for 2 in 22 overs at lunch in the second innings after a follow on the third day at Gadaffi Stadium here Friday.
Kiwis failed miserably in their first innings and were bowled out at a low 73 runs total in 30.2 overs, in response to Pakistan's massive 643 all out in 157.5 overs.
It was the Kiwis second lowest total against Pakistan. In 1955 Pakistan bowled them out at 70 at Dhaka. Forced to bat second time, the touring side had a poor start when Waqar Younis removed opener Matthew Horne (0) at 3 in
the first over of the innings.
Opener Mark Richardson was the second batsman out caught by keeper off Saqlain Mushtaq after making (32) with four fours, putting 66 runs for the second wicket with Lou Vincent (39) in 74 balls off 113 minutes and giving slight relief to a crumbling side.
They still need 492 runs to avoid innings defeat, and the task appears uphill. World's most fearsome pace bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, lovingly known as Rawalpindi Express, destroyed the visiting side in their first innings with a career best performance of 6 wickets for just 11 runs in 8.2 overshadowing his previous 5 for 25 against West Indies at Sharjah in the first ever Test series between the two countries played at a neutral venue due to security fears in the region.
Shoaib's wonderful performance set him on a hat trick, as he took two successive wickets off the 1st and 2nd ball of his 9th over, trapping Chris Walker lbw (0) and bowled Chris Martin (0) and folded the Kiwis innings Shoaib has so far not bowled when the Kiwis batted again. It is feared that the bowler has a sore ankle after developing some
pain while bowling in the morning session.
Resuming at overnight score of 58 for 6 in 20 overs the touring side started the day needing 444 runs, to avoid follow on, but failed miserably. Their last four wickets added just 14 runs off 48 minutes play in 61 balls and Shoaib, having previous four for 11, re- started the action from where he left off, not conceding further runs, and even claiming two more wickets to set a new personal record. Leg spinner Saqlain Mushtaq claimed his second wicket when he got rid of overnight batsman Daniel Vettori (7) caught by Waqar Younis leaving them 66 for 7 in 26.3.
Waqar lbw-ed the other overnight batsman Robbie Hart (4) and reduced Kiwis to 67 for 8 in 27.1 overs, leaving the rest of the task to Shoaib who really rose to the occasion.
May 03, 2002 - 0555 GMT
Akhtar takes six wickets as NZ bowled out for 73
LAHORE: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar took a career-best six for 11 as New Zealand were demolished for 73 in reply to Pakistan's 643 on the third morning of the first cricket Test at the Gadaffi stadium in Lahore.
Akhtar, who also took a personal best of six for 16 in the first one-day international against New Zealand at Karachi last week, continued where he left off and scythed through the New Zealand batsmen.
For New Zealand, who were asked to follow-on after trailing Pakistan by 570 runs, it was their second lowest score against the hosts. They were bowled out for 70 at Dhaka in 1955-56.
DAY TWO
May 02, 2002 - 1045 GMT
NZ reach 58-6 v Pak
LAHORE : New Zealand scored 58 for the loss of six wickets in their first innings at the draw of stumps on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan on Thursday.
Pakistan had scored 643 in their first innings which also included Inzamam-ul-Haq 16th Test hundred.
May 02, 2002 - 1045 GMT
Inzamam takes triple century for Pakistan
LAHORE: Brilliant Pakistani batsman Inzamam-ul Haq scored 329 against New Zealand here Thursday to become only the 15th batsman in Test history to pass the triple-century mark. Inzamam reached the milestone on the second
day of the first Test in sweltering heat at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium before eventually being caught.
It was only the 16th triple-century in Test cricket's 127-year history -- Australia's legendary Don Bradman managed the feat twice.
Pakistan's only previous 300 was scored by Hanif Mohammad, who hit 337 against the West Indies at Bridgetown, Barbados in 1957-58.
Inzamam, batting at number four, took 579 minutes, faced 436 balls and hit 38 boundaries and nine sixes in his epic knock.
May 02, 2002 - 1000 GMT
Pakistan reach 586-8 v NZ
LAHORE: Pakistan had reached 586 for the loss of eight wickets when the players went off the field for a cup of tea on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand on Wednesday.
Their vice captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq had raced to his career-best unbeaten knock of 287 surpassing veteran Javed Miandad's score of 280, that he got against India.
Shoaib Akhtar was batting on 26. Saqlain Mushtaq and skipper Waqar Younis were the batsmen, dismissed between the lunch and tea interval.
May 02, 2002 - 0715 GMT
Inzamam 13 runs away from triple century
LAHORE: Inzamam-ul-Haq was 13 away from a triple century at tea and Pakistan were 586 for 8 in 150 overs in first innings on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand here Thursday at Gadaffi Stadium.
Inzamam who was unbeaten at 287, become the highest run getter at home, surpassing the mark set by master batsman Javed Miandad of unbeaten 280 against India at Hyderabad in 1982-3.
Inzamam has so far struck 34 fours and six sixes in 409 balls in 549 minutes and together with Saqlain Mushtaq (30) produced 111 runs for the 7th wickets in 155 balls in 104 minutes. Pakistan which were 454 for 6 in 120 overs at
lunch, lost two wickets before tea.
Saqlain Mushtaq was trapped lbw by pace bowler Craig McMillan who got the second success of the day, by taking the catch of Waqar Younis off his own bowling as Pakistan lost their 7th wicket at 510 in 133.3 overs and 8th at
534 in 139.3 overs.
The other not out batsman at tea was Shoaib Akhtar (26).
May 02, 2002 - 0630 GMT
Inzamam makes 200 as Pakistan stand 454-6
LAHORE: Inzamam-ul-Haq completed a double century as Pakistan took lunch at 454 for 6 in 120 overs in first innings on the second day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at the Qaddafi Stadium here Thursday.
Inzamam batting at 211 hit his career's best knock, improving his previous best of exactly 200 runs in the Asian Test Championship against Sri Lanka at Dhaka in 1999, making his second double century in 81 appearances.
The home vice captain achieved a rare feat by smashing 29 boundaries and two sixes off 323 balls in 407 minutes, as Pakistan resumed at overnight score of 355 for 4 in 89.5
overs. Inzamam (159) the lone batsman present at the
crease at drawn of stumps on Wednesday was joined by Abdul Razzaq who departed after making (25) Ibw by pace bowler Daryl
Tuffey. Razzaq concentrated most on hitting boundaries and had four fours in a short-lived sizzling innings off 31 balls in 44 minutes. Pakistan which lost its 5th wicket at 384 in 100.1
overs, suffered another loss of keeper Rashid Latif caught and bowled by leg spinner Chris Harris.
Latif (7) saw Harris taking a difficult acrobatic catch to his left and reduced Pakistan to 398 for 6 in 107.5
overs. Pakistan reached 400 runs in 108.2 overs.
The other not out batsman was Saqlain Mushtaq (13).
DAY ONE
May 01, 2002 - 1115 GMT
Pak reach 355-4 v NZ
LAHORE : Pakistan scored 355 for the loss of four wickets in their first innings at the draw of stumps on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand on Wednesday.
May 01, 2002 - 0915 GMT
Nazir hits century on comeback v NZ
LAHORE: Opener Imran Nazir celebrated his comeback with a second Test century as Pakistan progressed to 209 for two at tea on the opening day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Nazir, 20 and playing in his sixth Test, reached three figures off the penultimate ball of the session with a straight six off all-rounder Chris Harris.
He was batting on 100, which included 13 exquisitely timed boundaries and three sixes having faced 171 balls during his four-hour stay.
Together with 81-Test veteran Inzamam-ul-Haq, Nazir had added 152 runs for the third wicket by the break. Inzamam, struggling for runs recently, was 73 not out.
Nazir's last Test was 17 months ago against England. His other century was against the West Indies at Barbados in 2000.
Earlier Daryl Tuffey had accounted for Shahid Afridi with the third ball of the match and then Daniel Vettori picked
up Younis Khan (27) in his third over to make it 57 for two.
On a hot and humid day, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming rotated his bowlers but they lacked penetration on a placid track.
Vettori mixed up his deliveries well and gave the ball air to try and force a false stroke but Nazir and Inzamam, who had faced 153 balls and struck 10 boundaries, countered by taking the aerial route.
Pakistan left out 104-Test stalwart Wasim Akram and fast bowler Mohammad Sami, instead opting for finger spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and wrist spinner Danish Kaneria.
New Zealand went in with leg spinner Brooke Walker to support Vettori and gave wicketkeeper Robbie Hart his first
Test cap. Pakistan are bidding to win their first home series win in four years.
They defeated the West Indies 2-0 in February but the series was played on the neutral venue of Sharjah because of security concerns.
May 01, 2002 - 0630 GMT
Imran finds form on comeback as Pakistan post125-2
LAHORE: Imran Nazir hit a sparkling half-century on his international comeback to lift Pakistan to 125 for two at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Nazir, 20, who last played for Pakistan 17 months ago in England's six-wicket win at Karachi, was unbeaten on 63 --
his maiden fifty in six Tests that also includes 131 against the West Indies at Barbados in 2000.
Pakistan made a shaky start when Daryl Tuffey removed Shahid Afridi for no score on the third ball of the match.
Slow left-armer Daniel Vettori then picked up the wicket of Younis Khan (27) in his third over to leave the hosts at 57 for two.
But Nazir and Inzamam-ul-Haq steadied the innings, building an unbeaten stanbd of 68 for the third wicket, with Inzamam hitting five boundaries in a confident 29.
Nazir, who has hit 11 boundaries and a six off Vettori, played some exquisite shots but was visibly uncomfortable against Vettori who mixed his deliveries well, giving the ball loop and extracting spin from a flat track on a hot
morning.
To counter the tough conditions, the rival captains have agreed to an additional drinks break in each session. When West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor walked on to the field, he equalled Englishman Dickie Bird's record of 66 Tests as umpire.
Earlier Pakistan, who won the toss and opted to bat, left out veteran paceman Wasim Akram who, on Saturday, said he would retire from international cricket after next year's World Cup. Team manager Yawar Saeed said Wasim , who has played in 104 Tests, was being rested because of the team's rotation policy. Also failing to make the starting lineup for Pakistan was fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who recorded a hat-trick in his previous Test here in March against Sri Lanka in the Asian Test championship final.
The home team, searching for their first series win in four years, included finger spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and wrist-spinner Danish Kaneria while New Zealand are playing leg-spinner Brooke Walker alongside the slow left-arm of Vettori.
May 01, 2002 - 0415 GMT
Pakistan elect to bat v NZ
LAHORE: Pakistan captain Waqar Younis won the toss and decided to bat first in the first Test against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Second Test of the two-match series is scheduled to be played at National Stadium, Karachi, from May 8.
Pakistan: Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis (captain), Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Rashid Latif (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria.
New Zealand: Matthew Horne, Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Craig McMillan, Stephen Fleming (captain), Chirs Harris, Brooke Walker, Daryl Tuffey, Robbie Hart (wicketkeeper), Chris Martin, Daniel Vettori.
Umpires: Steve Bucknor and Rudi Koertzen. TV umpire: Aleem Dar.
Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa)
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