To the same Carisbrook venue we head 12 years later for a very different sort of match. The hosts had won easily in the previous test and were seeking just their second series win against Pakistan. Despite an eight-wicket match haul from Richard Hadlee, things were not going well for NZ as they chased 278 to win against an attack that included a frighteningly quick 18-year-old left-armer Wasim Akram who took a five-wicket bag in each innings.
At 228-8 which was effectively nine as Akram had knocked a helmetless Lance Cairns out cold and he was in no state to bat again. Jeremy Coney (111 not out) and Ewen Chatfield (21 not out) combined for one of the great/controversial* rearguard partnerships to get them home.
Only test, Hamilton, 1993 - Pakistan won by 33 runs
This was a desperately poor NZ side, objectively a candidate for the worst ever fielded in the "modern" era, but thanks to an epic 133 from Mark Greatbatch – his third and final test century – and 15 wickets between Danny Morrison and Murphy Su'a, the hosts were chasing just 127 to win.
At 65-3 with NZ's best player Andrew Jones (19) set, it looked a doddle but he was caught freakishly in close off the middle of the bat and all hell broke loose. More specifically, Akram (22-4-45-5) and Waqar Younis (13.3-4-22-5) broke loose. The sight of Rod Latham's middle stump uprooted as he played back to a Waqar yorker speaks eloquently to the collapse.
First test, Dunedin, 2009 - NZ won by 32 runs
What is it about Dunedin and NZ v Pakistan tests? New Zealand were fully in control after securing a 97-run first innings lead thanks to half centuries from Martin Guptill (60), Ross Taylor (94), Brendon McCullum (78) and Daniel Vettori (99), and a five-wicket bag to Shane Bond.
They then capitulated to the naughty Mohammads, Amir and Asif, and Umar Gul, leaving the visitors needing 258 to win in close to a full day. At 161-4 with Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik set it looked ominous but Bond got Umar, Iain O'Brien got Shoaib and Pakistan crumbled.
In the process Bond tore a stomach muscle, ending for good a fleetingly great, yet unfulfilled test career.
Second test Hamilton, 2016 - NZ won by 138 runs
NZ scraped together 271 despite Jeet Raval being the top scorer with just 55. That was enough for a 55-run lead as Pakistan recovered from 51-5 and a Tim Southee six-for to score 216 on the back of Babar Azam's 90 not out.
Rain came and went and New Zealand declared late on day four at 313-5, Taylor unbeaten on 102, leaving Pakistan to chase 369 on an extended final day. At lunch they were 76-0, the first wicket doesn't not occur until the final ball of the 60th over, at tea they are 158-1. The test was headed for a shallow grave, then nine wickets now fell in 24 overs of mayhem. Neil Wagner takes the final three wickets, all ducks.
For 4.66 days, this was the sort of test that critics like to present as evidence for the death of test cricket. The final 90 minutes, conversely, is evidence that test cricket's quirks are timeless and as relevant and necessary now as they have ever been.
* Home umpire Fred Goodall effectively prevented Pakistan's quicks from bowling short to Chatfield, who had been nearly killed by a bouncer several years earlier.
New Zealand v Pakistan - at a glance
TOTAL PLAYED: 58
NZ: 12
PAK: 25
DRAW: 21
PLAYED IN NZ: 31
NZ: 7
PAK: 10
DRAW: 14
MOST RUNS
NZ: Martin Crowe 973
PAK: Javed Miandad 1919
MOST RUNS - ACTIVE PLAYERS:
NZ: Ross Taylor 905
PAK: Azhar Ali 767
MOST WICKETS
NZ: Richard Hadlee 51
PAK: Waqar Younis 70
MOST WICKETS - ACTIVE PLAYERS:
NZ: Tim Southee 31
PAK: Yasir Shah 44
