Asif fires on comeback

Mohammad Asif cleans up Peter Fulton for the second of his three wickets as Pakistan had the better of the first day

Buy this photo

Mohammad Asif marked his return to Test cricket with three wickets as Pakistan restricted New Zealand to 276 for six on day one of the first Test in Dunedin.

The controversial fast bowler, back after a two-year absence, struck early to dismiss Daniel Flynn then removed Peter Fulton and Grant Elliott in quick succession in the final session to finish with 3-76 from 24 overs.

The highlights for New Zealand, who lost the toss, were Ross Taylor’s increasingly fluent 94 and Martin Guptill’s dogged 60 - his maiden Test fifty.

Their third-wicket stand of 117 dug the Black Caps out of trouble after a horror start which saw them reeling at 27 for two inside the opening six overs.

Guptill and Taylor gave the hosts some hope of setting a reasonable total, but that was dashed when Asif removed Fulton and Elliott in successive overs to leave the New Zealand 211 for six.

Once again skipper Daniel Vettori, who was 40 not out, was left to shore up his side’s batting effort as he and Brendon McCullum, unbeaten on 25, made it to the close at the University Oval.

However, there was drama in the final over when Simon Taufel’s lbw decision against McCullum was reversed after the decision review system was called into play.

It could have been worse for New Zealand but for some poor fielding from Pakistan.

Imran Farhat missed two chances - Guptill when he was on 26 and Vettori when he had yet to score - while Gul, who toiled hard for no reward with the ball, also gave Guptill a life on 26 when he failed to take a catch at fine-leg.

Pakistan, the hosts of the series after it was switched from the sub-continent in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March, got off to the perfect start when left-arm quick Aamer yorked Tim McIntosh for a platinum duck.

Ross Taylor became increasingly confident at the crease but off-spinner Saeed Ajmal had him caught at slip for 94 after tea

Buy this photo

Number three Flynn then edged Asif to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, but Guptill and Taylor dug in to reach lunch at 75 for two with Guptill four short of a half-century.

Guptill went to his half-century courtesy of a lovely drive through extra cover – his ninth boundary of the innings - off Saeed Ajmal.

Taylor began to find his rhythm after the interval, taking just 29 deliveries to move from his lunchtime 19 to fifty.

In the 41st over the DRS was called upon for the first time when Asif referred an lbw appeal against Taylor, but umpire Billy Doctrove’s decision was upheld, leaving Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf with just one challenge left in the innings.

However Mohammad Aamer broke through, Fawad Alam running back from square-leg to take Guptill’s miscued hook, as New Zealand reached tea on 171 for three.

Pakistan dominated the final session as off-spinner Ajmal had Taylor caught at slip, Asif bowled Fulton for 29 and had Elliott caught behind.

Vettori enjoyed a lucky escape first ball off Asif when Farhat shelled his edge at first slip. He and McCullum added 65 by stumps.