Vettori, McCullum flay Pak attack
NAPIER: Captain Daniel Vettori led the way with an unbeaten century as New Zealand took a first-innings lead on the second day of the third Test against Pakistan today.
Opener Tim McIntosh made 74 before leg-spinner Danish Kaneria ripped out the middle order, taking 4-119. But Vettori and Brendon McCullum (89) then added 176 for the sixth wicket. Daryl Tuffey hung on to help Vettori reach his hundred in the penultimate over of the day as the Kiwis closed on 346-6, 123 runs ahead of Pakistan.
The hosts resumed the second day on 47-0, and the openers had stretched that stand to 60. Kaneria trapped Martin Guptill (13) leg before wicket, while Ross Taylor was left to rue a lack of patience when, on 21, he slog-swept Kaneria and a top edge sailed into the hands of skipper Mohammad Yousuf who took a good catch at backward square leg. But McIntosh patiently grafted his way to a half century from 147 balls. Picking up the pace a little after reaching 50, he eventually became Kaneria’s third victim after being caught by keeper Kamran Akmal, as was Daniel Flynn.
The innings was intriguingly poised at 145-5 — but that was the cue for Vettori and McCullum to show all their experience in steadying the ship, reaching their half centuries from 62 and 63 balls respectively.
Vettori rode his luck on the way to his fifth Test century, hitting Kaneria for six before the spinner dropped a caught-and-bowled chance when Vettori was on 97.
