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Page last updated at 07:20 GMT, Thursday, 26 November 2009

Umar Akmal century halts New Zealand charge

First Test, Dunedin, day three (close):
New Zealand 429 v Pakistan 307-8
Coverage: Regular score updates plus daily reports on BBC Sport website
Match scorecard


Umar Akmal celebrates after reaching his century
Umar hit 21 boundaries and two sixes in his 160-ball knock

Umar Akmal struck a century on debut as Shane Bond ripped through Pakistan's top order on day three of the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin.

Bond, making his Test comeback at 34, reduced the tourists to 85-5 with three wickets in a fierce spell in Dunedin.

But Umar, 19, guided Pakistan to 307-8, recording a 176-run sixth-wicket stand with older brother Kamran (82) before he fell to Bond (4-93) for 129.

Pakistan are still 122 runs behind New Zealand's first-innings total of 429.

The Akmals partnership ensured Pakistan avoided the follow-on target of 229 after the hosts had added a further 25 runs to their overnight total.

Bond made a breezy 22, featuring a six off spinner Saeed Ajmal, before he became Mohammad Asif's fourth victum.

But it was with the new ball where Bond - back following a two-year Test hiatus - and fast bowling partner Chris Martin wreaked havoc as Pakistan's top order crumbled.

Openers Khurram Mansoor and Imran Farhat fell to Martin while Bond, bowling with real pace and aggression, accounted for stand-in skipper Mohammad Yousuf, Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik as Pakistan teetered at 85-5.

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But Umar launched a thrilling counter-attack in his first Test, reaching his half century in just 57 deliveries while brother Kamran dropped anchor with a more conservative innings.

Although given a reprieve when Daniel Flynn spilled a difficult chance at gully on 15, the teenager continued to flail the Black Caps attack around the University Oval ground.

He brought up his three figures with a wristy boundary through mid-wicket off Iain O'Brien to become only the 11th Pakistani to score a century on Test debut.

"He is something very special and a very exciting player," zsaid Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam.

"He is a very hard working, very dedicated young person. He's a very exciting cricketer. We are lucky to have him in the side and I think he's got a great future for Pakistan."

Kamran fell 18 runs short of his seventh Test hundred when he edged Daniel Vettori to Ross Taylor at first slip.

And Umar's superb knocked was brought to an end when he was caught by Peter Fulton on the deep point boundary attempting to hit a short ball outside off stump for six.

Captain Vettori collected his second wicket when he had Umar Gul trapped lbw for six, leaving his side two more wickets to take on the fourth morning.



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see also
Vettori anguish as Kiwis push on
25 Nov 09 |  Cricket
Paceman Asif holds Kiwis in check
24 Nov 09 |  Cricket
Pakistan earn Twenty20 series win
13 Nov 09 |  Cricket
Yousuf to lead Pakistan on tour
11 Nov 09 |  Pakistan
Pakistan in New Zealand 2009
15 Dec 09 |  Cricket


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