Cricket: Pakistan owe Auckland victory to Aamir

AAMIR SOHAIL guided Pakistan over some awkward pot-holes to a five-wicket victory as the first Test against New Zealand in Auckland ended with half the playing hours unused. On a substandard pitch that had reduced batsmen to impotence while claiming 30 wickets during the first two days, Pakistan, left to make 138 after New Zealand's second-innings collapse for 110, appeared primed to maintain an inept trend as the home seamers made some telling inroads early on the third morning. However, Aamir rescued them after they had slipped to 73 for 4. By the time the enigmatic opener was caught at silly mid-on off Richard De Groen - one of three catches for Bryan Young - his dominance had been such that he had made 78 of the 119 runs on the board.