New Zealand are in trouble against Pakistan in the first Test at Eden Park in Auckland after a disappointing batting effort on the third day.

Pakistan, in their second innings, were 97/3, a lead of 192 runs.

Ideally, New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming is wanting to chase somewhere between 250-300 if his side is to win the game.

Vital to that aim is picking up early wickets in tomorrow's morning session.

Fleming has described the rest of the match as a challenge for his side, one they are looking forward to, and he is keen to pick up his own innings where he left off when dismissed today.

The stage had seemed set for Fleming to at last score his third Test century. He grafted long and hard, occasionally unleashing a punishing drive, whether square or in his preferred straight area.

He was a study in applied concentration, unhurried in his run gathering and ever watchful as the Pakistanis teased him with speed and spin.

It wasn't easy, the only time he wasn't battling to also save his side was when he was in partnership with Craig McMillan during their partnership of 111 runs for the fifth wicket.

As he watched some of the events of the day at the other end, Fleming would have been entitled to wonder whether his team-mates were paying attention to what was going on out in the middle.

Mathew Sinclair, having been put through the mill by leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed found himself at the other end facing Mohammad Sami. The relief of being away from the spinner proved too much and Sinclair lashed out at Sami and edged to first slip.

It would have been reasonable to expect that having seen Mushtaq testing Sinclair with his googlies that new batsman Nathan Astle might have been prepared for some of the same.

But five balls into his innings, Astle shouldered arms and offered no defence to the ball coming back on him and was bowled for a duck.

McMillan, having produced some lovely attacking shots, but generally offering sound support to Fleming, appeared distracted by the drinks break, at which he quaffed having just registered his 12th half century, and wiped at a ball which was taken by Younis Khan at second slip.

Adam Parore joined Fleming and had an interesting tussle with Waqar Younis who was gaining appreciable reverse swing. Unfortunately, for Fleming, it left him without the strike for long periods in what has been a traditional area of vulnerability for the skipper.

It was almost predictable what was going to happen and when Saqlain bowled a wide one, the inevitable occurred, Fleming dragged the ball on his wickets to be out for 86.

Pakistan had cause to feel aggrieved over some close lbw decisions, but instead of working to the plan of only appealing when a genuine ask is being made, they watered down the success ratio with some ridiculous appeals.

There was time for some lower order resistance from Adam Parore, who finished 32 not out, but he'll never trouble the flock herders of the rural hinterland for their jobs. His style of shepherding the lower order was non-existent.

Saqlain, did not bowl as well as he can, but he still picked up four for 48 while Mohammad Sami had good reward for his fine bowling with three for 70. Mushtaq Ahmed was unlucky not to have more that one for 62 from 23 overs of fine, probing leg spin.

Imran Farhat played a fine hand to score 63 of Pakistan's 97 runs before stumps but was out in the penultimate over of the night when caught and bowled by off spinner Paul Wiseman.

Daryl Tuffey had made the initial breakthrough for New Zealand with two for 21 in his first nine over spell but both he and Wiseman have a vital role to play in getting the breakthrough tomorrow.

© CricInfo