A little unexpected to say the least, but the Kiwis completely dominated this match, as an under strength Pakistan rolled over and played dead in some style. They were outbowled and out-batted by an impressive New Zealand side, giving encouragement to the younger members of the team for the future.

After day one, when Darryl Tuffey and Chris Martin had rolled over the Pakistanis first time around for 104, there followed by an impressive opening stand between Mark Richardson and Mark Bell adding 160 in 45 overs before the close. Day two was a wash out, but the break did not do Pakistan any good, as the home side batted through the 43 possible overs to build a strong 156 run lead for the loss of Bell for 105 in 163 balls, and Matthew Sinclair for 27. Richardson and Bell both completed their maiden Test centuries.

On day three New Zealand added a further 147 from only 146 balls, in under two hours. They lost Richardson to the third ball of the day, but it was hectic from then on. Craig McMillan battered the lackluster Pakistanis around for 98 from only 97 balls including 26 from one over (a new Test record) as he paddled and pulled six balls from Younis Khan for five fours and a six. He hit two more boundaries off his next two deliveries before hitting another drive straight to Waqar Younis at third man to signal the declaration.

McMillan added 147 with captain Stephen Fleming who was 51 not out from only 69 balls. The declaration came when McMillan fell short of what would have been his sixth Test hundred, but by then New Zealand led by 303.

Pakistan lost wickets steadily as the game continued to go New Zealand's way, this was not to be a happy debut as captain for Inzamam-ul-Haq. He scored 20 in an hour and a half, only debutant keeper Humayan Farhat with 26 added more to the lost cause. 118 left them defeated by an innings and 185 runs, and the series unexpectedly drawn.

Darryl Tuffey with 7 for 78 in the match in only his sixth Test, was a deserved man of the match.
Richard Kendall