Close Pakistan 643 all out (Inzamam 329, Nazir 127) lead New Zealand 58 for 6 (Akhtar 4-11) by 585 runs
scorecard

Inzamam-ul-Haq become only the 15th batsman to score a Test triple-century as Pakistan brought New Zealand to their knees on day two of the first Test at Lahore.

In sweltering heat, Inzamam recorded the 10th-highest score in Test history before eventually being caught by Daryl Tuffey off the bowling of Brooke Walker, as he tried to slog his fourth six of the over.

The last man out, his total of 329 was more than half of Pakistan's huge first-innings score of 643, their highest Test score against New Zealand.

And then, as if New Zealand hadn't suffered enough, it was Shoaib Akhtar's turn to wreak havoc. In a devastating, if sometimes wayward, spell of searing pace, Shoaib ripped through the top order with a series of unplayable yorkers.

Brimming with confidence after breaking the 100mph barrier last week, he blasted through the defences of openers Matt Horne (4) and Mark Richardson (8), then captain Stephen Fleming (2) and Chris Harris (2) to leave New Zealand reeling at 58 for 6 at the close, needing a further 386 to avoid the follow-on.

Craig McMillan (15) and Lou Vincent took the total to 53 before McMillan was caught by Shahid Afridi at silly point off Saqlain Mushtaq just two overs before stumps.

But despite Shoaib's fireworks, the second day belonged to Inzamam. It was only the 16th triple-century in Test cricket's 127-year history – only Don Bradman has managed the feat twice.

Batting at No.4, Inzamam took 579 minutes, faced 436 balls and hit 38 fours and nine sixes. He fell nine short of beating Pakistan's highest individual Test score of 337, achieved by Hanif Mohammad against West Indies at Bridgetown, Barbados in 1957-58.

However, Inzamam eclipsed Javed Miandad's highest score of 280 not Out, against India at Hyderabad in 1982-83. His previous best of 200 not out was against Sri Lanka in the first Asian Test championship final at Dhaka in 1998-99.

Resuming at 355 for 4, Pakistan lost Abdur Razzaq for 25 when he was trapped lbw by Tuffey, and Rashid Latif followed soon afterwards, smartly caught for 7 by an airborne Harris off his own bowling (399 for 6).

But Inzamam found an able ally in Saqlain and the pair frustrated New Zealand with a stand of 111 for the seventh wicket. McMillan eventually removed Saqlain for 30 and then caught Waqar Younis off his own bowling for 10 to finish with figures of 3 for 48.

Inzamam hit two towering sixes off left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori and at 169 he overhauled Salim Malik's total of 5,768 career runs to take second place on Pakistan's all-time batting list. Only Miandad lies ahead on 8,832.

Inzamam's second double-hundred included 29 fours and two sixes and came off 323 balls. He had struggled early on in the face of some tight bowling, and, resuming on 159, added just four runs in the first hour. But thereafter he opened up his broad shoulders and scored another 70 before lunch, although he needed a runner for the last 15 minutes of the session due to a leg strain.

It was a privilege which Fleming denied him after lunch, so instead of finding the gaps for twos and threes, Inzamam dealt exclusively in boundaries. He was helped in the afternoon by a stand of 78 with Shoaib, who made 37 with two sixes and four fours before he was stumped by Robbie Hart off Walker.

Shoaib's loss forced a weary Inzamam to up the tempo, and though he did his utmost to overhaul Brian Lara's world record of 375, tiredness and cramp took its toll.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd