NAPIER: Unbeaten half-centuries from openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat guided Pakistan close to New Zealand’s massive first-innings lead as the visitors ended the third day on 128 without loss in the third and final Test at McLean Park on Sunday.
Butt brushed aside his failure in the first innings with 66 not out while Farhat, who scored a century and carried his bat in the first essay, was batting on 55 after New Zealand ended their innings on 471.
Pakistan still needed 120 runs to make New Zealand bat again with two days remaining in a series, which is locked at 1-1.
The hosts, who were boosted by a century from captain Daniel Vettori, extended their lead with stubborn resistance from the lower order. Daryl Tuffey, overnight on 13, reached his maiden Test fifty and remained unbeaten on 80.
Vettori and Tuffey added 87 invaluable runs for the seventh wicket before Mohammad Asif removed the gritty New Zealand captain for 134.
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was Pakistan’s most successful bowler as he ended with figures of 7-168 as New Zealand gained a lead of 248 runs.
Tight security
Meanwhile in Rajkot, the first of five limited-overs internationals between India and Sri Lanka will be played under tight security this week with almost 1,500 police deployed to ensure player safety.
“We have deployed 1,500 policemen including three companies of SRP (State Reserve Police),” Deputy Commissioner of Police Mayank Chavda was quoted as saying on Sunday.
“About 100 policemen have been deployed at the hotel for the players security.” The first one-dayer will be played at Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground on Tuesday after India last month won the three-test series 2-0. India and Sri Lanka shared the two-match Twenty20 series 1-1.
At the western city of Rajkot, police are stationed at the venue as well as the Imperial Hotel, where the two teams will stay for three days.
Police have also carried out searches in other hotels throughout the city and launched 24-hour patrols. Spectators will pass through metal detectors at the ground’s entries, while some 20 closed circuit cameras have been installed to watch the stands.
The four other one-dayers between India and Sri Lanka will be played at Cuttack, Vishakhapatnam, Calcutta and New Delhi.
