Asif helps Pakistan level series by Jinu Sabastian

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Ground:	Basin Reserve, Wellington
Scorecard:	New Zealand v Pakistan
Player:	Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria, LRPL Taylor
Event:	Pakistan in New Zealand 2009/10

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DateLine: 6th December 2009

 

Asif and Kaneria combined to help Pakistan level the Test series as they decimated a fragile Kiwi batting line-up. Though the fielding was amateurish the bowling was top-notch as Asif claimed five wickets and with it he is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 17.

 

Aamer struck in the third over of the morning when he got Fulton (13) to edge one behind and the the latter's run in international cricket is surely over. Taylor meanwhile slammed two huge sixes to get the blood circulating in his leg but he did not receive adequate support from the other end as Elliot (6) was cleaned up by Kaneria. Taylor continued to play big shots as he got to his fifty with another maximum. Taylor continued to throw his bat around with abandon and just when he was three runs away from a well-deserved century he edged to slips where Misbah took an easy catch as New Zealand slipped.

 

McCullum (24) hung around gamely but his stay was ended when Kaneria and Kamran combo got rid of the keeper-batsman. Vettori once again showed why he is one of the most valuable player in international cricket but the task at hand was way too much for the skipper as he finally fell for 40 and New Zealand folded up for 263.