New Zealand take control

New Zealand were in complete control after their openers reached 160-0 at the end the first day of the third Test against Pakistan on Tuesday in response to the tourists' 104 all out.

Daryl Tuffey took 4-59 and Chris Martin 4-52 as the Pakistan batting crumbled with only Younis Khan (36) offering any resistance after his side were put in by New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming.

Any perceived demons in the pitch were not encountered by New Zealand openers Matthew Bell and Mark Richardson who passed the Pakistan total in the 30th over.

Bell had reached 89 and Richardson 64 when bad light stopped play for the day.

The pair have now posted three century stands in as many innings and passed 50 four times running.

Bell passed 1,000 first class runs in the New Zealand season when he reached 16 and Richardson is seven runs shy of the same milestone.

Without Mohammad Sami, who would have relished the early morning conditions, the Pakistan new-ball attack of Waqar Younis, Fazl-e-Akbar and Mohammad Akram have lacked penetration.

Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq also failed to extract any discernible turn from the pitch.

Mail Cricket Editor