The Hindu : Akhtar wrecks New Zealand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 30, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Akhtar wrecks New Zealand

New Zealand 366 & 103

Pakistan 196 & 246 for 3

WELLINGTON Dec. 29. Shoaib Akhtar wrecked New Zealand's second innings to leave Pakistan 28 runs from a match and series victory at stumps on the fourth day of the second cricket Test at the Basin Reserve on Monday.

Akhtar took 6-30 as New Zealand lost its last seven wickets for eight runs to be all out for 103 after leading by 170 on the first innings.

Left 274 to win, Pakistan reached 246-3 by stumps and need only 28 runs with seven wickets left on the game's final day to wrap up the Test and series. The first match in Hamilton was drawn.

Pakistan declined an offer to play on for an extra 30 minutes on Monday in an attempt to get the needed runs. Rain is forecast for Tuesday.

Four New Zealand batsmen failed to score and only three struggled into double figures as Akhtar, supported by Shabbir Ahmed, provoked their retreat from an apparently impregnable overnight position.

``Everything was happening for us and happening for me,'' Akhtar said. ``It was time just to charge in.''

New Zealand resumed on Monday at 75-3 in its second innings, leading by 245 runs and in a position to dictate the course of the day and the match.

The New Zealand second innings proceeded to dissolve in the face of Akhtar's pace and its defeat is now a formality.

After the overnight pair of Mark Richardson and Daryl Tuffey had seen the home side, uneventfully, through to 95-3, Akhtar and Shabbir crashed through their middle and lower order to end the innings in only 53 overs.

Akhtar, who leaned heavily on his ability to generate reverse swing with the older ball, added figures of 6-30 to his first innings of 5-48.

His match tally of 11-78 was the second best by a Pakistan bowler against New Zealand, behind but perhaps superior to Waqar Younis' 12-130.

Akhtar has been harsh on New Zealand batsmen in their recent matches against Pakistan.

He took 6-11 when New Zealand was all out for 73 in their meeting prior to this series and now has 17 wickets for 89 runs in his last two matches against the Kiwis.

Once Richardson was out for 41 and Tuffey for 13 after a solid performance as nightwatchman, New Zealand's batting declined.

Scott Styris was bowled first ball by Akhtar, Tuffey was run out, then Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori were trapped lbw by Shabbir to leave New Zealand 102-8.

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