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The love of Father in Law prevailed over justice, honor and integrity. To everybody’s utmost surprise Imran Farhat again made it to the playing eleven after single handedly causing the loss in the first match. I saw it coming Mohammad Yousaf didn’t had the balls to remove Farhat from the slips in the first match it was highly unlikely that he would drop him from the second test altogether.

Both openers batted with extreme caution and gave the team a solid start, but these days it doesn’t seem normal if Pakistan’s top three don’t collapse cheaply, Salman Butt was the first one to go trying to pull O’Brien but only getting the top edge, Imran Farhat soon followed attempting a lazy cut shot to Vettori, it was a nothing shot and he wasted all the hard work he did earlier, Vettori delivered another blow in the same over when he trapped Mohammad Yousaf in front of wickets on his deadly arm ball, within a span of 3 overs and six runs Pakistan lost three quick wickets.

When Butt got out everybody was expecting either Malik or Misbah to come out to bat at # 3 but that didn’t happen it was Umar Akmal who walked out to bat at # 3, Umar who was majestic in the first test looked very nervous and edgy he was fortunate to survive a few edges and was beaten outside the off stump on many occasions but luck favors the brave he scored a brave 46 until Tuffey found the gap between his bat and pad and rattled his stumps. The funny thing is that even though Yousaf, Misbah and Malik tried to avoid batting higher but they all had to come early because wickets kept tumbling.

This probably should be the last test ever played by Malik, he started of his innings with two aggressive strokes but played a horrible stroke a few balls later to throw away his wicket, he can’t make a sacrifice for the team, he can’t bat, he can’t bowl and he is not even that cute so why the fuck he is in the team it is anybody’s guess.

Misbah looked solid when he came to bat in, it looked he was all set for a big innings but then everybody has their personal demons, Misbah couldn’t resist a slog sweep of Vettori just before the close of play last night and threw away all the hard work he did earlier on. But the composure with which he batted earlier should give some hope to the fans and should clear off some uncertainty in the Pak dressing room.

Pakistan were reeling at 166/6 when the play was called off due to bad light, with Aamer and Akmal senior at the crease.

Daniel Vettori hoped to finish off Pakistan tail quickly but that didn’t happen Kamran Akmal first had a partnership of 37 with Aamer and then had a 64 run partnership with Umar Gul and the Kiwis started missing Bond sorely.

The tail wagged for Pakistan and almost added100 runs.

The pitch appears to be a bit quicker than the one at Dunedin a total of 264 was decent enough on this track.

Aamer for the third consecutive time struck for Pakistan in the first over, both openers got removed rather cheaply, Salman Butt dropped Flynn when he was at 0.

The real damage was inflicted by Umar Gul who removed the dangerous Ross Taylor,  Umar Gul made one swing into the right hander late and Taylor made the fatal decision to leave it.

New Zealand had no answer to the late swing and perfect line and length of Asif, Asif took another four wickets to take his series tally to 12 from three innings. Danish Kineria also made his presence felt by taking three quick wickets, Danish looked quite fit and in form an in form Danish was the only missing piece in Pakistan’s near perfect bowling attack.

New Zealand conceded a lead of 165 runs which might prove to be decisive on this wicket. Although Vettori claimed that his side is capable of scoring 400+ runs in the last innings but that seems highly optimistic.

The openers again gave Pakistan a fairly decent start at least by Pakistani standards, there is still a lot to be desired in the runs column but at least Butt and Farhat are seeing off the new ball. In test matches this is the most important job responsibility of an opener.

Pakistan lead by 229 runs Misbah and Yousaf are on the crease, Yousaf who decided to come at # 3 after facing a lot of criticism for sending Umar Akmal at # 3 in the first innings survived a few anxious moments the first session will be very important for Pakistan tommorrow if they manage to score 100 runs without losing many wickets Pakistan will win this match.

Lets not get too optimistic, if Pakistan team’s recent behaviour is of any indication then we might see another batting collapse tommorrow before lunch.