Cricket: Pakistan batsmen continue to dominate

Younis Khan. Photo / Getty Images

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Update: 319/5 (113 overs)
Misbah-ul-Haq 81 not out
Adnan Akmal 21 not out


Tea report:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq and veteran Younis Khan may have batted New Zealand out of the second cricket test with a 142-run, fourth wicket partnership which ended at tea on the third day.

Younis was out for 73 to the final ball of the second session Monday, leaving Misbah on 70 not out and Pakistan on 286-4, just 70 runs behind New Zealand's first innings of 356 with six wickets in hand.

Pakistan won the first test at Hamilton by 10 wickets and will take the series if it can continue its unbeaten record at the Basin Reserve, where it has won three and drawn four of its seven previous tests.

New Zealand needed to make quick inroads into the Pakistan middle order Monday, after its resumption at 134-2, to have any chance of setting up the win which would allow it to square the series.

Chris Martin dismissed Azhar Ali for 67 in only the fifth over of the morning, summoning extra pace from a placid wicket and causing Azhar to spar a simple catch to Ross Taylor at first slip.

But Younis and Misbah then batted through the remainder of the first and second sessions to deny New Zealand a second breakthrough and to make the prospect of a series-leveling win to home side much dimmer.

Younis was finally out in sight of tea, caught by Jesse Ryder off Daniel Vettori, who also captured the wicket of Taufeeq Umar for 70 with the last ball of the second day.

Misbah and Younis batted with exceptional patience and determination to place Pakistan in an almost unbeatable position with two days and one session remaining.

The pair raised their 100 partnership in 150 minutes with a straight drive for four by Younis.

Younis reached his half century in 158 minutes from 102 balls, again with a straight-driven four off Chris Martin, the eighth boundary of his innings.

Misah then hoisted his 50, driving a wide half volley from Tim Southee through backward point for four. He took 156 minutes and 105 balls to reach the milestone which included seven boundaries.

As the partnership continued throughout the afternoon, New Zealand's winning hopes dwindled. Vettori rotated his bowlers, taking the largest share of the responsibility for maintaining the attack on his own shoulders. The New Zealand bowlers were mostly accurate but the careful defence of Misbah and Younis was unbreachable.

-AP