Skipper Daniel Vettori (99) missed out on a well-deserved hundred but together with Brendon McCullum steered New Zealand to 404 for eight on a rain-marred second day of the first Test against Pakistan in Dunedin on Wednesday.
Resuming at 276 for six, the Kiwi skipper put on a fearless batting display and added 164 runs for the seventh wicket with stumper McCullum, who scored 78 before being bowled by Umar Gul.
Only 36 overs were bowled on Day 2 due to rain interruptions and the Kiwis scored 128 runs in a stunning fightback, defying all odds.
The left-handed Vettori smacked 14 boundaries in his 133-ball knock, which ended when he edged one off Gul to Kamran Akmal behind the wicket.
Shane Bond (8) and Iain O' Brien (2) were at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day.
At the start of the second day, McCullum, who was on 25 on Day 1, provided brilliant support from the other to the skipper. He batted with patience and resolve, battling for 154 balls and hitting 12 fours.
Vettori, on overnight 40, batted like a true leader as he steered New Zealand to a position from where the hosts' bowlers can test the Pakistani batting.
Scorecard
New Zealand (1st innings): (overnight 276 for 6)
T McIntosh b M Aamer 0
M Guptill c F Alam b M Aamer 60
D Flynn c K Akmal b M Asif 8
R Taylor c I Farhat b S Ajmal 94
P Fulton b M Asif 29
G Elliott c K Akmal b M Asif 8
B McCullum b U Gul 78
D Vettori c K Akmal b U Gul 99
S Bond batting 8
I O'Brien batting 2
Extras: (LB-14, WD-1, NB-3) 18
Total: (for 8 wickets in 126 overs) 404
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-27, 3-144, 4-192, 5-210, 6-211, 7-375, 8-402.
Bowling: M Aamer 24-3-87-2, M Asif 31-5-98-3, U Gul 34-10-115-2, S Ajmal 37-10-90-1.
