Vettori stars in curtailed day's play by Jinu Sabastian

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Ground:	University Oval, Dunedin
Scorecard:	New Zealand v Pakistan
Player:	BB McCullum, DL Vettori
Event:	Pakistan in New Zealand 2009/10

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DateLine: 25th November 2009

 

 

Early in the day Aamer and Asif started off encouragingly for Pakistan as the duo were able to find some swing to trouble Vettori and McCullum. Asif induced an outside edge from McCullum’s bat but the ball flew through the vacant third slip, Gul got a leading edge that flew over midwicket. Mohammad Aamer and Asif found the bodies of McCullum and Vettori once each with bouncers. But as time passed the pitch eased out considerably and the two batsmen were able to play some crisp shots to all parts of the ground. The pair was a picture of contradiction as Vettori used unorthodox methods to push the scoring while McCullum curbed his natural instincts to play the waiting game effectively.

 

Once the opening bowlers were rested the batting duo concentrated in consolidating the innings as they milked the off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and attacked Gul. Gul who was impressive yesterday as he bowled six maidens on a trot was quite expensive today as he struggled with his radar. He constantly over-pitched trying to get some swing and bowled bouncers to try and intimidate the batsmen but he was negated with considerable ease. The two Kiwi batsmen added 164 runs in 44.1 overs before Gul removed McCullum with a beautiful yorker to flatten his middle stump bringing memories of Waqar Younis in his halcyon days at the stroke of lunch. After lunch just 25 balls were bowled before heavy showers forced the players back in the pavilion.

 

The play resumed after nearly four hours of delay and the Pakistani team looked quite disinterested as they took the field. The conditions were far from being best for the resumption of play but the on-field umpires deemed that the light was sufficient for the play to resume. The Pakistani skipper Yousuf had constant chat with Taufel as it was visible that the Pakistani team was quite unhappy with being on the field. As soon as the play resumed it began to drizzle and the reason for the Pakistani skipper to be upset was quite understandable. The frown on the forehead of Yousuf only increased when Vettori was dropped by the keeper and Farhat at first slip. But the Kiwi skipper was unlucky as he failed to reach a well deserved century when he edged Gul to the keeper as he tried to run it down the third man. Cruelly for him the umpires offered the light to the batsmen the next ball which they accepted without any issue. With the light not getting any better the play was finally called off for the day.