Sinclair scores double ton for New Zealand

New Zealand were bowled out for 476 on Friday, with Mathew Sinclair not out on a superb 204 on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at Christchurch.

The tourists began their reply in the early evening and after three overs had already lost Imran Farhat, caught by Chris Drum off the bowling of Chris Martin for four.

Pakistan were six for one, with Ijaz Ahmed two and Faisal Iqbal yet to score.

It was an intelligent and timely innings from Sinclair -- and full of drama as the number three only had Test debutant Drum and Martin to accompany him to his double ton.

Drum is no mug with the bat, but Martin had scored just 12 runs from his seven Test innings before Friday.

Sinclair nursed the two tailenders, refusing to take runs if it meant giving up the strike, and finally got his 200 when he hit Saqlain Mushtaq over square leg for six.

In the next over Martin was out, bowled by Mushtaq.

The post-lunch session saw a rare even contest in the match with Pakistan claiming two wickets -- Adam Parore for 46, lbw to Saqlain Mushtaq, and Daryl Tuffey for 13, perhaps harshly adjudged lbw to Fazl-e-Akbar.

That gave Fazl his best figures in his third Test, three for 87. He and Saqlain were the pick of the Pakistani bowlers on Friday.

Waqar Younis proved expensive, being particularly punished by Sinclair, and Mohammad Sami lacked the form that earned him eight wickets in the Auckland Test, remaining wicketless.

Sinclair and Parore had a 101-run partnership, which took 132 minutes and 205 balls.

Mail Cricket Editor