Umar, Kamran save Pakistan's day

Pakistan recovered to reach 307 for eight at stumps on the third day of the first test against New Zealand in Dunedin on Thursday, still trailing the hosts' first innings by 122 runs.

Earlier, Shane Bond rattled the Pakistan middle order during a venomous seven-over spell of three for 25.

In reply, the 19-year-old Umar Akmal responded brilliantly with Pakistan were 85 for five, as he scored his maiden test century - 129 off 160 deliveries to steer his team past the follow-on.

Umar found support in his elder brother as he and Kamran amassed 176 runs for the sixth wicket, thought the latter missed his century by 18 runs.

Before lunch, New Zealand were dismissed for 429, adding only 21 runs to their overnight score.

In his third over of the second session, Bond bowled with pace and Mohammad Yousuf narrowly avoided being dismissed three times in a row, before Bond held a return catch to end the batsman’s stay.

O'Brien saw his day go from dream to nightmare as Umar reached his century in sensational manner, hitting three successive deliveries of the hapless bowler for boundaries to move from 87 to 101.

- Report Day 1
- Report Day 2

Teams:

Pakistan: Khurram Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf (capt), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal