WELLINGTON: Pace bowler Chris Martin moved into the record books with a four-wicket haul against Pakistan on the third day of the second test on Monday, though he admits his inclusion will only be a temporary one.
Martin finished with 4-91 as he and skipper Daniel Vettori (4-100) helped bowl Pakistan out for 376, a lead of 20, that was reduced to 11 when Brendon McCullum (six) and Martin Guptill (one) saw New Zealand safely through to stumps.
With the haul, Martin replaced Richard Hadlee as the highest wicket-taker at the Basin Reserve, though he spent most of the day duelling with Vettori for the honour.
Hadlee ended his career with 53 wickets at the venerable central Wellington ground, which forms the largest traffic roundabout in the southern hemisphere.
Martin passed that mark with his first wicket, before Vettori joined, then passed him with his own tally to move to 55 wickets.
The tall right-hander, however, mopped up the Pakistani tail to end the day with 56 wickets.
“It's temporary, I think,” the 36-year-old Martin told reporters with a grin.
“I think Dan and I will exchange that while I'm around but he'll grab it at the end.”
Martin had been seeking to grab a fifth wicket to move him closer to the 200-wicket club -- he is now on 197 -- but Vettori instead gave the ball to Tim Southee to take the final wicket, which he did.
“I got greedy, I wanted one more,” Martin said on his own personal battle with Vettori, who was also seeking to become just the second New Zealander to score a century and take five wickets in a test match after Bruce Taylor achieved the feat against India on debut in 1965.
“Anyone who is on four-for with the captain at the other end on four-for, we were both chasing five,” he added with a smile.
“I'm pleased Tim got that wicket because he has probably been the most consistent guy with that rock in this game.
“It was a steady day and that spell at the end made me feel better about the day.
“To be in the wickets at the right stage of the day made the legs feel a bit better.”