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Revival Sinclair century highlights promising start for Kiwis
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) -- Three days after being hammered by 299 runs in the first cricket test, Mathew Sinclair led a New Zealand recovery with a belligerent unbeaten century Thursday on the opening day of the second test against Pakistan. After losing the toss and being sent into bat, New Zealand reached 284 for five at stumps on the first day. It was a remarkable turn around for the home side, which lost all 10 second innings wickets within 40 runs on the fifth morning of the series opener in Auckland to concede a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Sinclair's chanceless 161-ball knock was the mainstay for New Zealand after Mark Richardson (46) and Matthew Bell (75) laid the foundation with a 102-run opening stand. At stumps, Sinclair was unbeaten on 100 with Craig McMillan not out on one. Pakistan hit back in the final overs of the day with the second new ball to remove Nathan Astle (6) and night watchman Grant Bradburn (0) in successive overs. After Richardson and Bell survived 12 overs from Waqar Younis and Mohammad Sami in a testing first hour, New Zealand batsmen took control of an overcast day with some courageous batting against an attack that at times struggled for length and direction. Offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq, 2-64 in 28 overs, claimed the wickets of both openers. Pakistan coach Javed Miandad praised the local lineup for its efforts. "They batted well and got partnerships going," Miandad said. "We were unlucky. We missed catches and didn't go for the half chances." Miandad said the Black Caps top order was shaky at the start, so Pakistan had not erred by sending the hosts into bat after winning the toss. "I still think it was a good decision," he said. 'The only way you could back yourself after going into the test with three seamers is by putting them in. They were under pressure and underdogs going into this test but they still batted well." The visitings side was frustrated by a dropped catch in the third over of the day and some ordinary umpiring that appeared strain relations between fast bowler Waqar Younis and Bell. Bell was dropped by second slip Younis Khan off Waqar and soon after lunch local umpire Dave Quested gave two decisions in favor of the opener. After surviving a leg-before wicket appeal on 49, Bell, on 54, was given another reprieve when Quested turned down a catch at the wicket. After taking the side to 75 without loss at lunch, the openers were finally separated when Richardson was bowled by Saqlain. The century stand was the first for New Zealand in 24 innings since Matt Horne and Gary Stead shared 131 against India at Ahmedabad in October 1999. After Bell was out to a catch by short leg Faisal Iqbal, Sinclair and skipper Stephen Fleming -- coming together at 163 for two -- took New Zealand to 248 with a forceful 85-run stand in just 93 minutes before disaster struck. Fleming, who had hit four boundaries and a six in his 32 runs, was too slow in responding to a call for a single by Sinclair and was run out by Younis' throw to wicketkeeper Moin Khan. "After you have been sent in, anything over 300 is a bonus," Fleming said. "I think we are on course for that and if we can score over 400, we can put pressure on them. "There is still a lot on the pitch for the seam bowlers and on a typical New Zealand wicket like this we're confident our bowlers can extract some bounce."
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