Rahat leads Pakistan fightback

Pakistan quick Rahat Ali led a seven-wicket destruction of the New Zealand innings on the third morning to have the first Test delicately poised at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.
Faced with a 67-run first innings deficit, Pakistan were six without loss at lunch after rolling New Zealand for 200 in their first innings.
In an action-packed session, New Zealand resumed the day at 104-3 and lost their last seven wickets for 96 runs inside two hours.
Left-armer Rahat finished with four for 62, while Mohammad Amir took three for 43 and Sohail Khan had three for 78.
Colin de Grandhomme continued his remarkable debut for New Zealand with a rapid 29, while lusty hitting at the tail saw Tim Southee add 22 and Neil Wagner 21.
New Zealand’s overnight pair Jeet Raval and Henry Nicholls added only one further run before both were back in the hut as Pakistan made inroads from the third over of the day.
Nicholls was trapped in front by a good length Sohail delivery and was gone for 30 while Raval went in the next over, caught by Sami Aslam at first slip off Mohammad Amir, without increasing his overnight 55.
De Grandhomme and BJ Watling put on 37 for the sixth wicket with de Grandhomme ensuring a first innings lead when he clipped a short Rahat delivery over the slip cordon to the boundary.
It was one of six boundaries by the 30-year-old whose reputation as a big hitter far exceeds that of his bowling.
Yet it was with the ball that de Grandhomme first announced himself on the international scene with his 6-41 in Pakistan’s first innings, a record return for a New Zealander on debut.
Sohail eventually brought his innings to an end with a shorter delivery that de Grandhomme skied to Rahat running in from long leg.
Asad Shafiq was moved to fourth slip when the right-handed Todd Astle went to the crease and was quickly in the game with a smart catch when Rahat moved the ball across the batsman.
Rahat also had Watling caught in the slips for 18 and Wagner went in similar fashion while Amir returned to remove Southee who, in his typical search for quick runs, had scored his 22 off 19.
The New Zealand innings lasted 59.5 overs, 24 deliveries more than Pakistan’s first turn at bat.