Wasim's first over was on target with an lbw appeal that was rightly declined by umpire Bucknor on the first ball and yielding 1 legbye in it.

Waqar's opening over was productive for New Zealand with a fine leg four but then fine comeback bowling beating the bal on more than one occasion. After 2 overs New Zealand was 5/0.

In the 4th over there was a legbye with five runs after the ball was thrown and hit the stumps and ran over the long on rope. The 5th over was also productive with a fine and ferocious cut past point by Astle off Wasim Akram and after 5 overs they were at 22/0 and going along nicely.

Waqar, in his next over was hit for two consecutive boundaries by Horne, one driven to point and the other flicked to leg.

Wasim Akram was hit for a six over mid wicket and a four in his fourth over by Astle but came back quickly to tie the batsman up. After 9 overs New Zealand had reached 46 without loss.

Waqar too suffered at Astle's hands, whacked over covers for a six in his fifth over but in typical Waqar fashion, he came back with an off-cutter on his fifth ball that splayed the stumps as Astle was beaten trying a square drive. After 10 overs New Zealand were 54 for 1 with new arrival Lou Vincent partnering Horne.

Vincent was in an aggressive mood cutting Wasim past point for four but then he bowled a superb inswinging yorker that hit the toe right in front of the wicket and umpire Bucknor was happy to raise his finger.

In the 12th over more disaster struck with a very silly run out with both batsmen at the batting end on the second run and a rudimentary flick of the bails by Waqar after possibly the batsmen had not heard each others call for the crowd noise. Horne had to go back and Harris joined McMillan. McMillan slammed Waqar off his toes to mid-wicket and after 12 overs New Zealand 64/3.

First change bowler for Pakistan was Razzaq and Harris flicked his second ball for four off his hips.

Much to crowd satisfaction Shoaib Akhtar was handed the ball to bowl the 14th over and he was the new Shoaib, accurate, using his slower ball, was hit to backward point by McMillan for a four. But came back the next ball that rose and McMillan mistimed a pull to midwicket as the ball rushed him and Saqlain at short mid-wicket held an easy one. That was Shoaib's 100th ODI wicket.

Oram came in to play out Razzaq's second over and took New Zealand to 74 for four and the large Pakistan total of 275 staring at them after 15 overs.

Finally McMillan brought in Astle for the 36th over, a long awaited change, as he is known to be a partnership breaker.

For the 37th over Tuffey (also suffering from a visit to a Japanese restaurant in Pakistan!), was brought in to help stem the flow of runs. Youhana hoisted him to mid-wicket though a bit mistimed for a useful four to get Pakistan to 168/3 after 37 overs.

In Astle's 2nd over Younis Khan played a nice flick for a boundary to fine leg.

Tuffey was very uncomfortable and getting lots of attention in the 39th over, and play was suspended for crowd problems. It seems a stone was thrown and referee Proctor was called in by umpire Bucknor and he decided to take the players off. Rashid Latif went to the errant stand and asked the miscreants to cool off. One can only say that such behaviour only results in a loss for cricket fans and even is a disadvantage in breaking the home sides concentration. After a delay of 19 minutes play restarted but there will be no overs deducted but 15 minutes adjusted from the dinner break.

Tuffey struggled through to complete the 39th over and Pakistan reached 178 with Youhana on 91 and Younis Khan on 47.

Butler was given the ball for the 40th over and pushing the ball around, Younis Khan reached his fifty off 69 balls with only 2 fours in it and Pakistan at 183 for 3.

With 10 overs to go, a newer ball was called for as it was discoloured but umpire Bucknor had to 'tamper' with it, rubbing it in the ground to help it age rather rapidly.

McMillan brought himself on for the 41st over but was hit to backward point for a lofted four by Youhana on the last ball. He started suffering cramps and McMillan sportingly allowed a runner in the form of Imran Nazir.

In the 42nd over by Butler, Pakistan reached 200 and the 150 partnership off 179 balls.

Youhana completed his 6th overall and 2nd consecutive ODI century off 138 balls (10 fours, 1 six). He then went on the charge, surviving a stumping chance in McMillan's next over.

Younis Khan also went on the slog and hit Butler for a six over point, playing an inside out shot but was out on the next trying to hoik one over mid-wicket, getting a top edge to Vincent at short-midwicket. Razzaq came in but after the crossing, Youhana slammed Butler over extra cover for a good six. Pakistan was 214/4 after 44 overs.

Adams came back for the 45th over and suffered 2 fours, one to point and the other to long leg hit by Youhana to get Pakistan to 2225/4 at 5 per over and still five final overs left.

Oram replaced Butler for the 46th over but Youhana and Razzaq set about him to hit 9 runs including a four through the covers.

Adams bowled the 47th over well and gave little width to the Pakistani batsmen allowing only 5 runs off it and the score went to 239 with 18 balls to go.

The 48th over was also a good one for New Zealand with Oram on target bowling a bunch of balls into the block-hole and was rewarded with Youhana's wicket on his fifth ball, holing out to Walker right on the rope at deep cover. Wasim Akram was gifted a full toss that was dispatched over long off for a six and Pakistan still had 12 balls left and sitting pretty at 253 for 5.

Andre Adams continued his economical bowling in his last over, giving only 6 runs and Pakistan was 259/5 with 6 balls to come from Oram.

Oram's and the innings final over started off with a half volley that was sent over mid-wicket for six by Razzaq then the 4th ball driven over the long off rope. Wasim skied the 5th ball to Hart who caught it short fine leg and the last ball to be faced by Razzaq after the crossing. Under pressure, it was a wide signaled by ump Steve Bucknor and the extra ball went to the fence to put Pakistan at 275 for six.

New Zealand will need to make a mammoth 276 after a short 30 minute dinner break.

For the 17th over Walker the New Zealand leggie was brought on and he was able to get some good turn and bounce. And, in his second over he had an appeal for lbw against Youhana turned down by umpire Nadeem Ghauri, Youhana was stretched forward and the replay showed the ball may have just missed off but was a close one. After 20 overs Pakistan had plodded to 77 and looking settled.

Oram bowled well and prevented the batsmen from scoring boundaries, his figures of 6-3-12-0 show the difficulties faced by Youhana and Younis Khan.

In the 24th over Harris came in to bowl his deceptive medium slow bowling as he can mesmerize the batsmen with ones that never seem to get to the other end. Youhana helped himself to a six off Walker in the 25th over and Pakistan reached 100 and a fifty run partnership off 78 balls. McMillan came on for the 27th and the scoring rate increased further with some more fours by Youhana and he reached a good fifty off a four to Harris in the 28th over.

After 30 overs Pakistan were 130 for 3 and looking well placed to set a good target.

It was not to be, New Zealand had other ideas. A depleted New Zealand side suffering some injuries and compounded by stomach problems, we saw Craig McMillan leading the team out.

A hot day but with a refreshing sea breeze too, saw Tuffey (also suffering from fever) bowl tightly to Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi with the Karachi pitch giving some extra bounce. Cramping them up with accuracy, he forced a frustrated looking Afridi to go for an intemperate drive early in the 2nd over to long. The ball bounced more than Afridi had expected and it was skied to mid off where Craig McMillan made no mistake and Afridi was gone for 1 with Pakistan on 15 after 2.3 overs.

Yousuf Youhana came in but saw Imran Nazir being set-up with some rising balls trying to tempt him to pull. The strategy worked and Tuffey succeeded 3 balls later in causing Imran to pull a ball outside off to Butler at long leg and the Pakistanis in some trouble at 15 for 2.

Inzamam came in and looked like he was trying to regain form with some pushes and prods and the odd boundary. The Pakistani fans were starting to feel comfortable when Inzamam again was tempted to pull Butler and sub Franklin held a simple one at long leg. The New Zealanders had been doing some homework in studying what to do to contain the Pakistan batsmen. However, Tuffey went off the field after a fine spell of 4-1-16-2.

Younis Khan decided to get his innings going with a fine cover-drive for four and after 15 overs Pakistan were 59/3 and Youhana and Younis Khan trying to settle down.

This first session certainly went to New Zealand who fielded well, sliding and diving all over the field showing their commitment that they are to make a match of it.

The National Stadium has almost a sell out crowd with cricket hungry fans finally getting some International cricket to watch.

The weather here is warm and humid, not unlike Sharjah but this is a day/night game and the evening will be much cooler, the current temperature with a nice sea breeze bloing is 34C.

Waqar Younis won the toss and has decided to bat first.

The wicket is like a carpet, flat and dry and definitely a batting pitch.

Some of the New Zealand players have stomach problems and Craig McMillan will be captaining today.

New Zealand team: Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, *Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Andre Adams, Ian Butler, Jacob Oram, +R Hart, Brooke Walker, Mathew Horn, Daryl Tuffey

Pakistan team: Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, +Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, *Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdul Razzaq