HAMILTON (New Zealand), Dec 23: Pakistan paceman Mohammad Sami ripped through New Zealand’s top order on the final day of the first Test on Tuesday as the tourists pressed for an unlikely victory.

But in the end, New Zealand escaped with a draw when bad light stopped play after tea on the fifth day, with the hosts struggling on 96 for eight.

Once the players left the field, rain began to fall and the covers were put on, spoiling Pakistan’s push for a late, if unlikely, victory.

After the first session of the day was lost to rain, the sides were given a total of 75 overs to bowl and Pakistan wasted little time putting the hosts under pressure with Sami leading the attack.

When the bad light came, Sami had taken five for 44, with Daniel Vettori his last victim, brilliantly caught at second slip by Taufiq Umar for 20 leaving the home side with a lead of 196 runs with two wickets and 35.5 overs remaining.

Vettori, a century-maker in New Zealand’s first innings of 563, had shared in a potentially match-saving partnership of 43 with Jacob Oram.

When New Zealand resumed their second innings with a lead of 104, the chances of any result other than a draw seemed remote.

However, Sami removed Lou Vincent (4) Stephen Fleming (0), Scott Styris (20), Robbie Hart (0) and Vettori as well as throwing a return over Moin Khan’s stumps to run out Craig McMillan for two.

Umar Gul chipped in with two wickets, Mark Richardson for 15 and Chris Cairns, a first ball duck which removed his off stump.

The hosts had resumed their second innings on four for no wicket after bowling out Pakistan for 463. New Zealand had notched 563 in their first innings during which Sami failed to get a wicket, returning figures of nought for 126 and conceding 15 no-balls.

The second Test of the series begins in Wellington on Friday before the sides play five One-day Internationals.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings) 563 (S.P. Fleming 192, D.L. Vettori 137 not out; Shabbir Ahmed 5-117).