Wellington might be regretting that they didn't have another specialist batsman or two in the line-up after getting into a strong position against Pakistan at the Basin Reserve today.

Dismissing Pakistan for 175 was the sort of bonus Wellington would not have expected before play started today. To finish up on 94/1 at stumps was an even greater bonus.

Pakistan's decision to have first use of a greenish-looking pitch did not look the best of choices as its top order crumpled in the face of good swing bowling action from Andrew Penn and James Franklin.

They knocked the top off the Pakistan batting with opener Imran Farhat lasting only five balls before edging a catch from Penn's bowling to Grant Donaldson in the gully.

From that stage on, apart from some middle-order defiance by the classy and clearly developing batsman Younis Khan, it was a steady progression, made all the more rapid by a fine spell of bowling from medium-pacer Matthew Walker who took career-best figures of five for 29.

Wellington made a good start in response to Pakistan, with skipper Richard Jones taking on Mohammad Akram and Fazl-e-Akbar in determined fashion by playing some well executed hook and pull shots.

So well was he batting that it was surprising to see him allow Akram to bring one back through the vacant spaces between bat and pad to bowl him for 40.

Grant Donaldson survived a second ball scare when he was dropped by leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, and in partnership with Selwyn Blackmore, who was unbeaten on 34 at stumps, the aim must be for Wellington to pick up where it left off last night and try to get a 200 run lead on Pakistan.

But achieving that could be where the lack of batsmen like Matthew Bell, Roger Twose and Stephen Mather could hinder the side making the best of the opportunity now provided.

It will be a good test for the string of all-rounders in the side and there is every prospect that if they can overcome Mushtaq's threat, Wellington may gain a suitable advantage.

Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson was pleased with the way his openers bowled, especially discarded Test bowler James Franklin.

"He went away and did what the selectors wanted him to, his lines were ok and he was swinging the ball away from the right-hand batsmen," he said.

Franklin and Johnson had worked on straightening out a wrist problem and a front foot problem which had been hindering the young left-armer's ability to swing the ball and he had recovered well.

"He was probably also bowling a length that didn't let the ball swing," he said.

Matthew Walker's performance was a result of him maturing over the second half of the season, Johnson said.

"He put his hand up and said, 'I'm a member of this side, a senior member of this side.' He's been around for a while now. He got it right on the string and moved it away from the batsmen and there is a bit more edge in the bowling," he said.

Johnson said that Andrew Penn and Franklin had been contesting the spot in the New Zealand team left vacant by the injury suffered by Chris Drum and he felt that if Shayne O'Connor was not available for selection then either would do the job.

He felt that if Wellington could bat well tomorrow and score 250-260 more then they could possibly look to putting some pressure on Pakistan.

"It is just as important that the side finishes the season well. We've asked the Wellington public to come out and look at the Shell Trophy winning side," he said.

If Wellington can apply the pressure, there is every prospect that they could repeat the feat of the New Zealand A team in beating the tourists, although it is hard to imagine the Pakistan batting falling over in the second innings as quickly as it did in the second innings against New Zealand A.

© CricInfo