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| | GEO Sports | | New Zealand 77 for 4 at tea in second Test | Updated at: 0845 PST, Friday, December 04, 2009
 WELLINGTON: Pakistan's three-pronged pace attack put on display another master class of speed, movement as accuracy to leave New Zealand's top order in familiar disarray at tea on the second day.
The bowling attack got down to business after Kamran Akmal and Umar Gul helped Pakistan add 103 to their overnight score, lifting their total to a competitive 264.
In conditions assisting fast bowlers, and given the strength of Pakistan's pace attack and the weakness of New Zealand's top order, it was always likely that wickets would tumble at a pretty quick rate. That's exactly what happened once Daryl Tuffey and Daniel Vettori had combined to take three scalps in four overs to end Pakistan's first-innings resistance.
Only ten minutes were left before lunch when New Zealand's openers walked out, but it was enough time for Mohammad Aamer to completely befuddle Martin Guptill. Aamer is fast taking over the mantle of first-over destroyer from Tuffey, and he was at it again, shaping one back into Guptill and then angling the next one away to take the outside edge, ensuring that New Zealand's three opening stands in the series read 0, 0 and 1.
After lunch, the struggle continued. Both Aamer and Mohammad Asif moved the ball in both directions from an excellent line around off, giving the batsmen few scoring opportunities.
Aamer consistently clocked 145 kph. Asif should have had Daniel Flynn immediately after lunch, but Salman Butt at short leg put down the inside after juggling with the ball for an eternity. Asif had his reward soon after, getting Tim McIntosh in similar fashion, but Flynn survived the session and went in to tea on an unbeaten 24.
New Zealand's best batsman, though, was Ross Taylor. Moving his feet confidently from the start, he covered the movement and drove with authority through the off side. One such cover-drive, off Asif soon after he'd arrived at the crease, would have done plenty to calm the dressing-room nerves. He sped to 30 from just 40 balls before he was deceived by a Gul indipper to which he shouldered arms, only to find the ball crashing into off stump. When the hopelessly out of form Peter Fulton played around a full delivery from Gul soon after, New Zealand had slumped to 52 for 4.
Gul was one of the stars of the morning session too, scoring 31 and adding 64 - the highest partnership of the innings - with Kamran as Pakistan frustrated the home team for much of the morning session. |  |
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