WELLINGTON: Pakistan levelled the three-match Test series against New Zealand at 1-1 with a crushing 141-run win here today.

New Zealand began the fourth day at 70-3 needing a further 335 for victory, but lost Peter Fulton in the third over of the morning with only five runs added. Ross Taylor fired nine fours and five sixes in his 97 but was denied a fifth Test century when he was the sixth man out. Mohammad Asif took the final wicket to seal his fifth five-wicket Test haul.

After Fulton could not resist a drive at Asif and edged through to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, Taylor led a rearguard, and swiped the paceman high over square-leg for six to bring up the New Zealand 100.

He swept spinner Danish Kaneria for another six in the next over and Pakistan soon lost a challenge when a video review confirmed that Grant Elliott had indeed been struck outside the line of off-stump so remained at the crease.

Elliott’s reprieve was not significant, however, and he departed in the next over after trying

to sweep fine, getting his angles wrong and merely deflecting the ball on to his stumps. Taylor was not deterred and recorded his fifty by dispatching a Kaneria full toss over mid-wicket for six. The 28-year-old swept the slow bowler for another six to bring up a fifty stand with the usually fluent Brendon McCullum, whose contribution was just seven.

McCullum successfully appealed against a Rudi Koertzen leg before decision when replays showed a clear inside edge, but in the 61st over Taylor was tempted outside the off-stump and got a thick edge to first slip. Skipper Daniel Vettori struck two early boundaries as tea was taken at 205-6, but in the first over of the final session McCullum edged a Kaneria to Akmal.

The wicket took Kaneria past Abdul Qadir and he soon added to his tally by dismissing Tuffey before Kaneria spilled the sixth dropped catch of the innings when he made a complete hash of a skied return chance offered by Vettori and fell to the turf. The Kiwi skipper was out in the next over and the match ended when Malik finally held one at second slip to dismiss Iain O’Brien. The final Test begins from December 11.

Adelaide Test

ADELAIDE: West Indies secured a first-innings lead after bowling Australia out for 439 and closed the third day of the second Test in here 35 runs ahead at 23-0.

Australia resumed on 174-0 but Shane Watson was bowled off the second ball of the day without adding to his 96.

Simon Katich also fell swiftly for 80, left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn claiming both wickets in his career-best 5-155. Michael Clarke (71) and Brad Haddin (55 not out) also weighed in but Australia ended their innings 12 runs behind.

Windies openers Chris Gayle and Adrian Barath hit two fours apiece in reply in the four overs possible before the stumps were drawn for the day.