Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee took two wickets each as Pakistan collapsed from their overnight 347-4 to 455. That left New Zealand needing 208 to win and BJ Watling led

the charge with a six and nine fours in his 60 off 62 balls as the Black Caps raced to 90-0. The game ended when drizzle turned into a downpour to leave the series 1-1.

A draw had always looked the most likely outcome after Pakistan’s Umar Akmal edged his way to his half century off the second ball of the morning. But Misbah-ul-Haq missed an attempted slog off Vettori and was stumped by Brendon McCullum, who also caught an Akmal top edge to leave the tourists on 397-6.

Skipper Vettori removed Mohammad Aamer three balls before lunch, while Iain O’Brien further raised New Zealand’s hopes when he had Umar Gul caught by Daniel Flynn after the break. Kamran Akmal smashed Vettori for six over mid-wicket after reaching his half century, but Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Asif were unable to match his rearguard resistance.

Knowing they needed to be aggressive, Watling smashed four fours off Gul and hit Kaneria for a six and a four in the same over. However, Tim McIntosh played cautiously making 23 not out off 54 balls when the deluge brought a premature end to proceedings.