Pakistan toil in tour match

Pakistani bowlers hammered by McCullum as he posted double century, put on 162-run opening partnership with McIntosh.

Pakistan were off to a terrible start to their Test campaign after New Zealand Cricket XI dominated the opening day of their three-day tour match at Cobham Oval (New) in Whagarei. Pakistani bowlers were hammered by Brendon McCullum as he posted a whirlwind double century and put on a 162-run opening wicket partnership with Tim McIntosh. McCullum was dismissed for 206 and was the last wicket to fall on the first day as New Zealand posted 342 for four.

But by then the wicket-keeper batsman had done the damage as he hit 20 fours and five sixes in his 228-ball knock. Pakistan, who played six frontline bowlers, found no answer to the brutal onslaught as new-ball pair of Sohail Tanvir and Tanvir Ahmed returned wicketless. Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz claimed a wicket each as Pakistan toiled on the field.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2011.