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The idea of a spinner bowling 30 overs on the first day of a Seddon Park cricket Test would almost have been unthinkable before today, but Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman took one look at the pitch this morning and knew what he was in for.
Rehman rolled through 30 overs this afternoon and was the man of the moment for the tourists, taking three for 51 as the BLACKCAPS were reduced to 260 for seven at stumps.
He bowled 29 overs unchanged from the southern end from two overs before lunch until the new ball was taken half an hour before stumps, on a pitch which generally offers little to the slower bowlers until later in a test but was much dryer than usual today.
"I expected (to be bowling on the first day) because the pitch looked quite flat and I prepared in my mind to bowl 20 to 30 overs, said the 30-year-old from Sialkot, whose average of 39.45 from four previous tests would not have raised the New Zealanders' eyebrows before today.
"It's normal. I was in Abu Dhabi against South Africa (last November) and I bowled 50 overs in an innings, so I'm prepared to bowl long spells and it was a very good day for me.
"Spin on the first day is good for spinners and good for me as well. It will definitely spin on day three and day four."
Rehman's accuracy was impressive and he also got the odd ball to turn sharply, making him a constant handful for the watchful New Zaland batsmen.
He bowls flatter and quicker than Daniel Vettori, who relies more on flight and variations of pace, and New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill was impressed.
"He got a couple to go, one really big to Rosco (Ross Taylor) early in his spell," said Guptill, who faced 164 balls for his 50 and had trouble scoring off the spinner.
"He's quite demanding. He was hard to get away so we had to bide our time and later when he got tired he bowled a few bad balls which the guys managed to put away."
Overall, Rehman said Pakistan were pleased with their day's work but annoyed at the unbeaten 83-run stand for the eighth wicket between Kane Williamson and Tim Southee.
"We also dropped one or two catches and if we held them then maybe we (could have) bowled them out for around about 200 to 225."
NZPA
