Miandad labels NZ negative

The first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan has ended in a draw after rain and bad light brought play to an early close on the final day.

New Zealand held an overall lead of 196 on 96-8 in their second innings when the teams were forced from the field in the final session.

Paceman Mohammad Sami was the chief destroyer, returning figures of 5-44.

The second and final Test starts at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Boxing Day.

With the morning session lost to the weather, New Zealand abandoned hopes of scoring quick runs.

After 10 overs the score had edged up from an overnight 4-0 to 13 when Sami struck, taking out Lou Vincent (four) and Stephen Fleming (nought) in the space of five balls.

In a 13-over spell, in which he fired the ball down repeatedly in excess of 93mph, Sami took 4-32, followed by another after tea to snare his second five-wicket haul in his 12th Test.

His midas touch extended to the field where a brilliant throw from the deep had Craig McMillan run out at a time when New Zealand needed to survive rather than pick up runs.

Umar Gul was nearly as menacing as Sami, and had Mark Richardson caught behind and then Chris Cairns clean bowled in successive balls. Jacob Oram staved off the hat-trick.

But then Daniel Vettori and Oram steadied New Zealand with the innings' best partnership of 43.

Oram was New Zealand's top-scorer, unbeaten on 23 after 85 minutes at the crease.

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain) Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Robbie Hart, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Ian Butler, Richard Jones.