Iain, well bowled in the second innings...u have terrific bouncer....good luck...keep goin.

Hope the same thing to happen, best of luck mate

Hey Brien, I see a leveled series here for sure. Pakistan looks quite committed and dangerous. Let's see what happens tomorrow! Good luck.

Tough ask! but lets hope that ur batters fire....difficult not impossible though

Best of Luck !

Hi Ian,
really poor batting man!!
the game seems over for you guys.
Pakistan will make 300+ and the shakky batting line up as yours will never gonna chase 450+ target.
Pls improve the batting against swing bowling.
Hard luck for this game.
All the best for Napier.
And congratulations for wickets. It seems only you are the who takes wickets after Vettori.

hey iain.. nice one to get salman butt out. but i must say the match is quiet firmly in pakistan's favour, unless u guys can pull out something special. i suggest a lot of back of length and short stuff with aggressive field settings is the way to go tomorrow morning. yousuf and umar akmal are the key wickets.. as a fan of your blog, id be glad if your the one to prise em out (wouldnt mind dan or tuffey either!!). your right, lotsa time left in the match and good conditions to bat on, but your batsmen need better application, as the pakistan pace battery are real good. wish you guys good luck.. win the first 45 minutes tomorrow morning, maliks not in the best of form, misbah just prods around and they have a weak tail. good luck!!. go get a 5fer.. good on ya mate.. cheers!!

What a wonderful performance by all the bowlers, I hope we have similar pitches all over the world. Those pitches back in subcontinent are really not doing any good for Test Cricket. This Basin reserve pith is ideal for Test Cricket, if Muhammad Aamer and Umar Gul can stay and make runs then no excuse for specialist batsman. I am truly amazed by NZ team selection as the few batsman are not really up to the mark. I hope Pakistan will win ths match.

Well anything can happen in a game of cricket and both teams must be hoping for something special.

hats off to o brien for the way he handled pain in the first test when his finger was dislocated and now in the second test his last spell on day two was mind blowing to say the least the ball with which he got butt reminded one of the golden greats of yesteryears holding,marshal this test match irrespective of the result is grest advertisement for the longest and most testing format

I am pretty sure you've got yourself a 5'er mate. Both the batsmen at the crease are short on confidence. Yousuf under pressure to perform as a captain and Misbah fighting for his place. For Yousuf all you have to do is nip one back in at the start and Yousuf will be wrapped on the pads. Dan has got a better chance with him considering his terrible history with left arm spinners as he became a bunny for Panesar and then Herath not too long ago. Umar Akmal's technique too isn't ideal for Seaming wickets and there is a lesser chance he will miss the edge as much as he did in the first innings. In Short, Just put them under pressure and you can even get these 8 wickets within 50 runs as happened more than once in Srilanka this year. With the pitch becoming easier for batting, you can back the black caps getting 350 too with atleast 2 n a half days to go.

Very Optimistic Ian, but Pakistan are also there to play and they will have their plans as well. to me if Pakistan gets 350+. then it will be harder on uneven, spinning pitch and the kind of attack that Pakistan has.

I believ hero of this game will be kaneria not you asif or umar akmal. What ever the target pakistan sets for u which is most likely to be around 350 max nz will have a tough day to bat . Bad decision by danny to put pak to bat first.

bowled well... but yous seem too optimistic with current batting...need miracle from your batters to save or win this game... all the best anyways...

Go Iain! Go!

Hey Mate, Being a Pakistani fan I would love to see Pakistan leveling this series but being a even bigger cricket fan, It will be fun to watch how you manage to bring your team back in this game.
They way you bowled today was awesome. It was quite obvious that you were giving your 100% on every ball and was rewarded by getting two important wickets.
you wish for a better day of cricket for New Zealanders and I wish for a much needed test win for Pakistani team. But Hey!!! Doesn't matter what ever the result is. Its Cricket who wins at the end of the day. Thanks a lot to both team for producing such an interesting test series.
Cheers!!

pakistans bowling way 2 gud for nzealanders to handle.....if pakistan wins which i wish 2c, wow perfect final in napier,,,infact wud b the best test series ive seen beating even pakistan in srilanka 09

well, I agree with Danny here. Pakistani batting is too vulnerable and 8 wickets for less than 50 happened not just once back in srilanka, so there is more than just hope for New Zealanders but to me Pakistani batting looks more settled now and they might go for the attack tomorrow.

Apart from that, hosts are down on confidence. I think if Pakistan give them a score of 300 to chase, it wont be easy at all facing balls from kaneria and asif.

Apart from that, hosts are down on confidence. I think if Pakistan give them a score of 300 to chase, it wont be easy at all facing balls from kaneria and asif.

P.S OB you bowled really very well mate. I liked the aggression on your face, specially when you bowled that bouncer to butt.

I want Pakistan to win big here but I like a competitive game as the last one. And like people making things to happen out of nothing, So thumbs up to you and wish you good luck for tomorrow (later tonight for us:)

Best of luck to you but by looking and analyzing I think that Pakistan will win this match. But can't predict cricket :)
Best of luck to both teams.

Well bowled mate.. get some sleep .. you're going to need it.. I hope Pakistan's batting keeps you in the field for two days .. set a target for around 600 and you people get out for less than 50 this time.. :P

Fingers crossed ..

Good Luck !

I keep waiting for your blogs, though I don't post my comments often. In my honest opinion, you are one of the most under rated bowler in the world today. You have excellent control, great attitude, good pace (i noticed, you were bowling at 144-145 consistently today)and phenomenal bouncer.

I still remember the 160 which sachin scored against your team, and the ease with which he played that day. It was one the best stroke filled innings of his, and you were the only bowler who looked like troubling him, and you also hit him in his groin with a peach of a delivery, which eventually made him to retire during the 163* ODI innings (later in the odi series) against you.

I just wish you all the best. I also wish, you become a permanent fixture in the kiwis camp and also the spearhead of the side. I wish you get a 5 for tomo.

Also, some replies to good comments will make your blogs all the more interesting.

lol.......talking about something special :P
if Pakistan declare now with the score of 229, u guyz will not able to achieve half of it...so start preparing yourself for the 3rd test...

pakistan very good position in this test match i hope pakistan win this match

i think it is not easy for u to do well bcause Yousaf is searching for runs and Misbah want to make his place and both of them will try hard to do something. i dont want to say anything about Umar A and Shoib M but u know better Kamran A, he is the most danger batsman nowadays and fights hard in trubling setuations

Iain, great effort you've put in 2nd inning. It's always good to see a black cap showing some spine. Hope the rain doesn't spoil the chances of an imminent result unless you guys fail to take advantage of the eternal time that NZ has to wrap this game up! Good Luck.

MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN

I like you as a person and wish your team would win, but this Test ain't yours. With Aamer, Asif and Kaneria bowling on 4th day, it would be a miracle if you guys reach 300

I think pak will again manage at least 250, so a 350+ target will be task to do even with lot of time left. But this pitch and pak bowling attack it will be hard. Pacers are doing good already and now even if pitch get little easier there is Kaneria who already disturbed Kiwis in first inning. So Pak in command now but first session tomorrow will be a hell of an important session for both teams.

Good Luck both teams :)

hey Iain, the way pakistan have been snatching defeats from the jaws of victories anything can happen....but surely pak have a better chance of winning...

Hi Ian – good luck mate but we have to say NZ’s batting let us down in the first innings. It’s not impossible, but if you win it will be the biggest 1st innings lead conceded by an NZ team winning by batting in the 4th innings against Pakistan. We’ve only won batting 4th after conceding a first innings lead against Pakistan twice before and one of those was the famous one back in 1985 when Cairns Snr got pinged on the head and Ewen Chatfield batted for 104 minutes and 84 balls. Let’s hope we don’t need Chris Martin to do that!
Great blogs by the way. Good luck – forget about the fivefor – aim for the 10 for the match and we might just have a chance!

Iain, my assessment of this series is, both teams have world class bowling attack but not world class batting lineups which makes this series very open. I dont think the batting problems gonna be solved in the middle of a series. It is long process. A series win here not gonna help niether pakistan nor new zealand cause it will just hide their major problem and that is "Batting". They cannot catch up tops teams like australia until they solve their batting problems.

Mr Blogger. Regardless of outcome.. We, as a cricket fan, r lovin it. Both teams displayed amazing cricket to date .

As far as this match is concern, tho Pak is in a v strong place, I believe it is still up for grab… considering the cat and mouse game we witnessed in T1 and Also pakis .... Good Luck to both teams .. and Hope next time we will have a 7 test match series between pak and NZ.

only if pak gets out below 100. then newzealand has chance. its stil tough for nz man/ 265. dude. and ask dan to forget last yearz test match agnst england at napier. compare then english and present paki bowling.even therez no fleming and if like southee s 77 martin scores a century then u really have the chance to win the series. xd

Are you serious Iain? A team that got out for 99 in the first inngs can chase 400 in the second? :)

Well bowled Brien. It was a great display of fast and somewhat hostile bowling after a long time. From the scoreboard, your chances of winning are slim. But Pakistan is known for sudden collapse. So if you bowl them out for under 150 in second innings, your batsmen needs to pull their special to secure the series. It would be another gem of a test match like the last one to see the contest b/w bat and ball.

Your last spell was terrific, nice to see you bump up the pace!

well bowl O Brien plz next time shave ur beard

I believe that winning this match (from a NZ POV) is unlikely, the real question is, can we hold out for a draw! Bowl dot balls O'B! Pakistan is uncertain how much a "safe" total is in this 2nd innings, and if they want to bat for 2 days LET THEM!!! Psychologically if we can draw this match would really hit Paki's hard. Batsmen have to know where their off stump is! And leave anything thats not threatening. Our opening combo (Gup & Mac) has hit rock bottom, can only get better! Take a leaf out of Mark Richardson and John Wrights book and VALUE YOUR WICKET! who cares about strike rate, its only really important in 20-20 and one dayers, if your both 25 runs from 100 faced I would be over the moon, for god's sake put a 50 partnership on already! Im not writing the Kiwi's off but its a steep hill to climb at the Basin.

Cricket is a game of turning fortunes. Last test was a testament for of this statement.
Going by stats Pakistan has this game bagged already! It is only their's to loose and boy can they make it happen! Only bad batting (and not good bowling by NZ) will get them out cheaply as they have time and wickets to take lead of 450+ and if they give NZ post tea session and all of the enxt day NZ will crumple around 170-185. Let's see as all this is fair prediction! Go Cricket!

good luck to newzeland team.

Sorry to be blunt but judging by your past batting displays and your ist inns heroics,i think 229 is already too many...

Ian, that spell you bowled to the Pak openers was absolutely ferocious. You probably deserved MoYo's wicket as well. Best of luck...

looks like you have a battle on your hands - what do we have to do to get you the ball earlier... yeah batting has been letting us down - but the Paki's did bowl well, good to see you bowl with grit and determination. PS do you think Tuffey could bowl the same speed off 10 paces than he does 30? just looks like he lets the ball go slower than the speed he runs in?
I'm still backing you guys - go for the 5 wicket bag man, and then go for 7. We are all behind you. a real Kiwi Sportsman - tough as nails, and nuts that drag on the ground!

i think this match is still open .pakistan hava aadvantage but for winning a test pakistani would have to do some thing special.but i still believe new zealand can come back in this match.bcz the batting conditions for the forth innings will be suit able and pakistani bowlers have to work hard for getting them out.but i still believe pakistan can get their first win in almost 3 years.best of luck pakistan.

this match is still open but i believe pakistan will get his first win in almost 3 years.best luck pakistan.

Devastating bowling by Pakistan. Asif and Gul were magical. However the most worrisome bowler for NZ was Kaneria. He was remarkably accurate and had bounce. The balls were zipping and fizzing past the bats. However the most disconcerting feature for you was the amount of turn that he was able to elicit from this surface. This will only get more pronounced and unpredictable as the surface wears on.I found the NZ batsmen technically inferior- and that too on their home ground. They had no answer to the magic that was on display. I expect Pakistan to set a target in excess of 400 runs, which will be a very stiff challenge in the 4th innings.

Iain, great bowling to get out the Pakistani openers in the second innings. Also, you were quite unlucky in the first innings and you could have easily picked up a couple more wickets. I guess that is how the game goes. I am a huge Pakistan cricket fan and I hope they not only win this test match but also the series. However, it will be an injustice if I do not appreciate how you have been bowling. Great bowling! You have been a great addition to world cricket. I love your 'never say never' attitude and the interesting narratives on your performances.

Well done Iain, that spell you bowled last night was excellent! Good attacking cricket. Hope things go your (our) way tomorrow!

I want New zealand to win. I think it seems remote. New zealand Opening batsman man up and create century partnership. You can't expect Ross taylor to score bulk of the runs every time. Fulton has to score some runs and faster. Smack the spinners. If you go on attack without losing wickets it make pak bowlers try different things and bowl loose balls.

Anyway good luck. Obrien need to be consistent. And do not get injured as New zealand are running out of bowlers.

I was inspired by your performance in the first game. Going wicket-less all along, your attitude was amazing towards the end and your persistent bowling won the game for NZ.

Give it heaps Iain! I was in the RA Vance stand yesterday trying to go hoarse, and now that the sun's out today hopefully you'll get some more bounce and pace out of the pitch.

I was very impressed with your spell before stumps last night, great pace and uncertain terror just like Bond. Let's do it - set up Rosco for a scintillating double hundred in the 4th innings ;-)

I think you are one of the best bowlers in NZ attack. Its nice to see the positive attitude from ur side but Pakistan is playing and i think they would like to have a test win as well. I hope the deserving team win although im a Pakistan team fan.

While I would love to see Pakistan win,I am thoroughly impressed by your bowling both in this test and the last one, and I hope for this test to be as eventful and exciting as the one in Dunedin!

Ya, you need to do something really special, score a century. But not sure whether that would be enough.
- A disappointed NZ team fan

Congratulations for taking 6 wickets in the match!To be frank Iain, i don't think you guys have any chance of winning this match. Asif's bowling has been consummate & i think you guys have helped him a lot in doing so.Best of luck for Napier!

I heard that you are retiring and will go to england with your wife. I know it's very difficult decision to make. WE & BLACK CAP WILL MISS YOU!!!
Will pray for you and sure that after performing in UK (in county) you will be selected for National Side (England). Want to see you in action. Take care yourself and your wife.
MISS YOU :)

Gutted to read about your retirement, you have been one of my favourite black caps of recent times, always giving your best and not giving up. All the best for the future and hopefully the blogs keep coming? It would be interesting to read about life in English domestic cricket.

can anybody tell me which brand of sunblock umar akmal is using.plz help me i need it.thanx

Congrats on your career Iain. Sorry to see you go. Best of luck to you for your future, your family & county cricket.

Hope your blogs keep coming, into your county stint and even afterwards.

Great effort in this test by you Iain. I understand your reasons for retiring but I don't like it! You will be missed. Hope you will still blog while playing for Middlesex. As a NZ cricket fan, thank you for your brave performances and commitment to the team and your legion of fans. Too soon to leave us!

Read that u r retiring from International cricket. We fans will miss u a lot. Thanks for all the entertainment u have provided us. Do well.

Well Bowled mate, just red the news of your retirement.You have been a terrefic servant to NZ and will def be missed. I wish you a very good luck and an exceptional career in UK.Cheers

good luck in your last series Iain. Great decision in putting family first. Might bump into you in Derby one day.

I am gunning for Pakistan but I have to say...a great series so far. I think the bowler friendly pitches and the way you bowlers then utilised those wickets has been a wonderful sight. I think both the bowling attacks would have given any batting team a hard time. This is what test cricket needs...roll back to the 70s and 80s and give bowlers a chance and fans...a delight.

Great spell today Iain. I watched it at the Basin, you were generating some serious pace and bounce. Just when NZ seems to finally have a good pace attack... you will be missed.

Dear Ian ..

Its sad to see such a great bowler retire .. you will be missed from international cricket.. Good luck with your future with your wife in England.

and good luck for the last test.. (even though I hope Pakistan wins that one .. )

hey we will miss you iain, a lot, hope you remain happy, bye.

just heard u r retiring from international cricket, i am sure your fans will miss you a lot, really lot, you are a nice bowler and after dan u seem to be the most reliable!

and please bowl like this in next match, we want new zealand to win, we trust you! good luck.

Always liked your work, both on the field and on this blog.......feeling pretty bad to know that you are retiring......all the best for your future in england, though!

heyy mate!!! we will miss u!!! u bowled exeptionaly well n da 2nd test!! nyway good luck on ur new life!!! all da way from sri lanka

As many people have already said, it will be very sad to see you leave the Black Caps behind. You're a fantastic bowler (really underrated in my opinion) and you'll leave a huge gap in NZ's bowling attack. We can only hope that whoever fills it will go about their work with as much energy, enthusiasm and gusto as you have. Keep writing 'cause we all love reading about the day to day rigors of a professional cricketer. Thank you so much for your contribution to New Zealand cricket and well done on the win in Dunedin last weekend. Good luck for Napier. Go out on a bang!!!

well played Iain...you gave us a unique perspective of the game...keep it going and you have a nice media career ahead of you...we will always remember you as a cricketer who gave it his all...and that performance with a dislodged finger is an apt way of remembering you...and the 31's not bad as well!!!....well played sir....sad to see you go..

Watched you in the practice nets at lunch. Typical- you always give 110%. If you'd snicked that last ball over slips for 4, I would have been betting on you getting a 50 today. Thanks for always giving your all for the Black Caps. Go well in UK.

Iain,

Good Bowling,Batting in the second innings.
Thanks for the Entertainment.
ALL THE BEST for the Final Test Match at Napier.

great test played in good spirit...who says Test cricket is under threat...i thnk its the only form of cricket still thriving....i hope u do well in Napier.....5 wickets and scoring a run off the last ball for a tied test will be a fitting finale.....(though Pakistan seems favt now to win...)good luck for your future ....

Hi Iain, this is nachiketa from India.I've been following your blog for quite some time and its a real sad day for cricket followers all over the world that you will be retiring from international cricket after the Napier test. World and New Zealand cricket will be the poorer for it and i will miss watching u give your 100 percent on the field and your perspective on the game. Wish you all the best for your future life in UK. Hope to be seeing some more cricket from you (IPL maybe) and if possible behind the mike too. All the best
Your fan...Nachiketa

Darn! will miss you next season Iain.. :-( boo..hoo..
Already feeling blue at the thought... :-(
Wont see you steaming with hungry to bowl next season...
Will miss the live hot blogs on the day ends...
Didn't see it coming out of the blue...
Well matey wish you well...you have left us readers & the Kiwi team with a big hole that I dont think can be filled... Guess its been a short and sweet career...Anyway wishin you well.. Kia ora!

sad to hear of your retirement from international cricket but I can fully sympathize with your predicament - best of luck to you in the UK & hopefully you'll get lots of wickets and maybe some runs in your final test

Hi Iain,

I feel that your bowlers did a good job but Pakistan bowlers were really far better than your side and that was the reason for the loss. Good luck for the next game!

Give it heaps for your last test in Napier, Iain. You've done a great job for us during a typically testing period. I thought you bowled exceptionally in Wellington and didn't get the luck you deserved in terms of figures. Nice knock of 31 though with the bat.

Your reasons for retiring from international cricket say a lot about you as a person, no public prima donna clashes with the coach or team mates.

Fingers crossed for you that you go out with a bang, how about a 10 wicket bag and a series win to boot at Napier?

Dear Iain, we will miss you. Will you keep up your blog?
Good luck to you in whatever you choose to do. Our thoughts are always with you.God bless you.

Hey Iain

good luck for the 3rd test - really want to know if you will keep this Blog going when you retire and are in the UK, would love to see you on TV Commentating instead of Tristy and Doully.
I'm sure the other readers of your blog would agree with me that you have lifted the profile of NZ Cricket by writing this blog - taking us international and having readers waiting intensily for your next addition.

all the best

Chris

Just watching the start of the third test. Welcome back man. Brutal spell full of passion.

Oh Brien! Do you really hafta go? 3rd test day1 - One amazin firebreathin spell of fast bowling that was. Thanks for all the entertainment, its a pleasure watchin you bowl. We'd be privileged to watch you play International cricket, if you consider to do so anymore. And, G'luck with whatever you do for the future.

Please dont retire...please...please..please...i hope u read it ian...this is your fan from India... a real fan I tell you..following your bowling from very first match...
Pls let me know...why are you retiring so early...you havent played enough international cricket..I am disappointed