Pakistan Test perfectly poised, says NZ's McCullum
WELLINGTON: The second Test between New Zealand and Pakistan was perfectly poised for either side to press for a result on the final day, New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum has said.
New Zealand were bowled out for 293 late on the fourth day at the Basin Reserve, giving Pakistan a victory target of 274 on Wednesday to wrap up the two-match series 2-0 after their crushing 10-wicket win in the first game in Hamilton.
"It's set up for what could be a great day of Test cricket to finish off a test match," said McCullum, who scored 64 and combined with Martin Guptill in an opening stand of 120.
"(A target of) 270 was probably what we were looking at in the day, regardless of whether we were bowled out or not.
"The other option could have been if we were able to carry on at the top and got say 350 in a real hurry, (but) in the end 270, 90 overs, it's a beautiful score to try and take 10 wickets with."
The only problems for New Zealand pushing for a victory could be the weather, with heavy rain expected over the lower North Island later on Tuesday, or a defensive mindset from Pakistan, and McCullum said it was up to his bowlers to attack.
"Yep, we need to bowl them out," McCullum added. "You'd do well to predict the Pakistan approach. "We've seen so far in the series that their batting has the ability to go reasonably defensive and see off periods of attack from us but it also has the ability, if we do get it right, to fall over."
McCullum said he felt that captain Daniel Vettori would be the key to New Zealand pushing for victory, particularly after Pakistan's part-time off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez was able to extract sharp turn from the pitch that had not offered much beforehand.
"Dan is champing at the bit to get the ball into his hands. "I thought he did a really good job in the first innings. He is never going to run through a team in the first innings and this is his real opportunity now.
"I think tomorrow we wil! l hopefu lly see Daniel Vettori in full cry and us going on to get a Test win."
New Zealand were bowled out for 293 late on the fourth day at the Basin Reserve, giving Pakistan a victory target of 274 on Wednesday to wrap up the two-match series 2-0 after their crushing 10-wicket win in the first game in Hamilton.
"It's set up for what could be a great day of Test cricket to finish off a test match," said McCullum, who scored 64 and combined with Martin Guptill in an opening stand of 120.
"(A target of) 270 was probably what we were looking at in the day, regardless of whether we were bowled out or not.
"The other option could have been if we were able to carry on at the top and got say 350 in a real hurry, (but) in the end 270, 90 overs, it's a beautiful score to try and take 10 wickets with."
The only problems for New Zealand pushing for a victory could be the weather, with heavy rain expected over the lower North Island later on Tuesday, or a defensive mindset from Pakistan, and McCullum said it was up to his bowlers to attack.
"Yep, we need to bowl them out," McCullum added. "You'd do well to predict the Pakistan approach. "We've seen so far in the series that their batting has the ability to go reasonably defensive and see off periods of attack from us but it also has the ability, if we do get it right, to fall over."
McCullum said he felt that captain Daniel Vettori would be the key to New Zealand pushing for victory, particularly after Pakistan's part-time off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez was able to extract sharp turn from the pitch that had not offered much beforehand.
"Dan is champing at the bit to get the ball into his hands. "I thought he did a really good job in the first innings. He is never going to run through a team in the first innings and this is his real opportunity now.
"I think tomorrow we wil! l hopefu lly see Daniel Vettori in full cry and us going on to get a Test win."
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