Openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell have made their way out to the middle. Shaheen Afridi with the new ball for Pakistan. Has three slips and gully in place
10.41 am All the experts agree that there could be more joy for spinners as this match progresses. Some cracks opening up, but most of them around the middle of the pitch. It is still not entirely unplayable, but if bowlers are disciplined with their lines, they should get just rewards. We have about five minutes for the first ball to be bowled
Day 4, 10:25 am Welcome to Mount Maunganui for continuation of this really interesting contest between New Zealand and Pakistan. Just reminding you that the first ball will be in about 21 minutes from now. Will Pakistan's retreat into their comfort zone of self-preservation prove to be costly as they go into the final couple of days of this game? The visiting side's batting coach Younis Khan asked his team to pick up tips from watching the opposition captain Kane Williamson's approach at the crease yesterday. Williamson's last two visits to the crease in Test cricket have fetched him 251 and 129. Is there another masterclass in store for us today? One of the great stories of Day 3 was Neil Wagner, who came on to bowl despite having fractured a toe while batting, and still proved to be every bit as effective as one would imagine he could be on this surface. What a player!
7.34 pm Just a reminder, that Day 4 begins at 10:46 am local time. We'll be back with all the action. Goodbye from Ranjith P, Karthik Krishnaswamy, and myself, Debayan Sen.
7.28 pm The New Zealand players are the first to come to Faheem and shake his hand. He leads the teams off at stumps on what has been a really dramatic Day 3. Pakistan seemed to get off to a solid start, but then the pace quartet of New Zealand came in and choked them right at the top of the day. Mohammad Rizwan and Faheem Ashraf put the fight back into the piece, and after the captain fell to a sensational bit of fielding from Mitchell Santner, Faheem made sure that Pakistan wiped out any chance of Pakistan needing to follow on in this contest. With two full days to go, it's still advantage New Zealand, but you would think Pakistan have given themselves a chance now of keeping the hosts in check and making sure they consume some more time before setting a fourth-innings target. Lots of talking points, all of which will be available right here on ESPNcricinfo
Faheem Ashraf c †Watling b Jamieson 91 (193m 134b 15x4 1x6) SR: 67.91
END OF OVER:102 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | PAK: 235/9
- Naseem Shah0 (3b)
- Faheem Ashraf87 (132b)
- Neil Wagner21-5-50-2
- Kyle Jamieson23-13-31-2
Faheem must be wondering if this is a good time to now chance his arm. Would really feel sorry for himself if he runs short of partners before getting to a 100
No, the replay indicates, it also took the handle
Shaheen Shah Afridi c Latham b Wagner 6 (48m 30b 0x4 0x6) SR: 20.00
Over the wicket
Short leg and leg gully in place for the big man
Wagner goes around the wicket
END OF OVER:101 | (maiden) | PAK: 234/8
- Shaheen Shah Afridi6 (28b)
- Faheem Ashraf86 (131b)
- Kyle Jamieson23-13-31-2
- Neil Wagner20-5-49-1
"With that hit by Faheem the fifth day equation would be NZ needing 8 wickets to win on the final day." is Eshan Gilani's prophecy
He's copped a bit of blow here, Afridi, and will need some attention. Hit just around his right hip, as he was trying to move out of the way
ahmad: "now the main focus should be playing aggressively play for at least end of today and tomorrow reduce the lead to 100, this would be a great comeback. Come on Faheem you can do it."
Back around the wicket
Josh W: "Time for me to start looking up Statsguru to prepare for the "When should Kane declare arguments""
Jamieson goes over the wicket now
END OF OVER:100 | 7 Runs | PAK: 234/8
- Faheem Ashraf86 (131b)
- Shaheen Shah Afridi6 (22b)
- Neil Wagner20-5-49-1
- Kyle Jamieson22-12-31-2
Sheeraz: "@Bakt Noor Faro: He's only had 4 innings since his comeback after a gap of 10 years. All in away and testing conditions. When you can have a test regular like Azhar Ali average 11 in tests away from home for 3 years and still be in the team. I think you need to give Fawad a longer run to be fair. Not to forget he made a very gritty 100 in the tour match vs NZ A just a few days back. Only a mater of time he comes good."