Sami's dream spell clips Kiwis' wings
Reuters

AUCKLAND, March 12 : Pakistan’s Test debutant Mohammad Sami and master spinner Saqlain Mushtaq blitzed the New Zealand batting on the last morning of the first Test in Auckland on Monday to give Pakistan an emphatic 299-run victory.

The match ended 34 minutes before lunch, when New Zealand were bowled out for 131 in their second innings.

They began the day on 105 for one and were hoping to hold out for a draw, with the 431 runs needed for victory beyond most teams. But Sami and Saqlain enjoyed a dream bowling spell aided by some inept New Zealand batting. Sami’s man-of-the-match effort on Monday was seven overs, three maidens, five wickets for six runs for a second innings return of five for 36.

His accuracy was pin-point, employing reverse swing.

On his last two balls in his first Test he clean bowled James Franklin and Daryl Tuffey, and had that not been the end of his over, he’d have had a chance of the hat-trick. As it was, Saqlain got last man Chris Martin first ball after the other batsman, Adam Parore, scrambled for a leg-bye.

Saqlain played a huge part in New Zealand’s second innings slump, taking four wickets for 24 in all. He also ran out opening batsman Matthew Bell Sunday to end an opening stand with Mark Richardson at 91.

He had Richardson out in the first over on Monday when he was caught by Imran Farhat, and took the wickets of Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Martin. He also pulled off a brilliant catch to get rid of Craig McMillan at mid-on, diving to his right and grabbing the ball with his finger-tips.

Saqlain’s figures on Monday were 12.4 overs, four maidens, four wickets for three.

New Zealand were hoping to hang on for the minimum 103 overs but lasted just 24.4. Losing Richardson so early turned out to be a heavy blow, but night watchman Paul Wiseman and Mathew Sinclair went along reasonably comfortably to 121 when New Zealand lost their way.

They lost their final eight wickets for just 10 runs.

Scoreboard
Pakistan (1st innings): 346
New Zealand (1st innings): 259
Pakistan (2nd innings): 336/5 decl.
New Zealand (2nd innings, overnight 105/1): Mark Richardson c Farhat b Saqlain 59, Paul Wiseman b Sami 8, Mathew Sinclair c Youhana b Sami 10, Stephen Fleming lbw Saqlain 5, Nathan Astle b Saqlain 1, Craig McMillan c Saqlain b Sami 0, Adam Parore not out 0, James Franklin b Sami 0, Daryl Tuffey b Sami 0, Chris Martin b Saqlain 0. Extras: (b-12, lb-7, nb-1) 20
Total: (All out in 59.4 overs) 131
Fall of wickets: 1-91, 2-105, 3-121, 4-126, 5-127, 6-130,7-130, 8-130, 9-130;
Bowling: Waqar Younis 11-2-31-0, Mohammed Sami 15-4-36-5, Saqlain Mushtaq 25.4-12-24-4, Mushtaq Ahmed 8-2-21-0

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.