Kiwis pummel Pakistan on record-breaking day

New Zealand

Propped up by a double ton by Brendan McCullum and a career-best 192 from Kane Williamson, New Zealand reached 637/8 at stumps on day three of the third Test against Pakistan.

Assisted by half centuries from Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson and Tim Southee, as well as some lower order contributions from Tim Southee and Mark Craig, the Kiwis go into day four of the final Test with a 286 runs against Misbah-ul-Haq's side.

Resuming their first innings on 249 for the loss of one wicket, McCullum and Williamson resumed where they left off on Friday evening, with Williamson moving into the 90s with four boundaries in the first two overs of the morning.

In the first hour, the pair added 78 runs as McCullum neared his double century and Williamson continued to impress with his measured approach after he reached the 100 mark.

McCullum reached his 200 shortly before the lunch break when he dispatched leg-spinner Yasir Shah over the long-on boundary to reach the milestone off 186 balls – the fourth fastest ever in terms of balls faced.

In the process, McCullum became only the fourth player to score three double hundreds in a calendar year after Donald Bradman, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke managed the feat before, and equaled ‘The Don's' record of scoring a triple century and two doubles in the same year.  His 11 sixes are also the most ever scored against Pakistan by a batsman.

The Kiwi kipper was dismissed in the same over, though, with his score on 202 when he tried to sweep the leg-spinner out of the rough and was bowled around his legs.

McCullum and Williamson had put on 297 for the second wicket, a record for New Zealand.

In strode former captain Taylor, and while the run rate slowed a touch after the lunch break, he and Williamson, who had since surpassed his previous career best of 161 not out, added 116 for the third wicket in 32 overs.

Taylor (50) was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session when he drove at a Shah delivery and could only edge it to Younis Khan at first slip.

Williamson seemed destined to score his maiden double century as the tea break approached, but went into the interval on 192 not out with Corey Anderson at the wicket with him.

However, he missed out on the landmark when he lost his wicket on the first delivery after the interval when he hung out his bat loosely at a Rahat Ali delivery and was promptly caught at slip by Younis as well.

Anderson and new batsman Daniel Vettori continued to play aggressively, but wickets fell with more regulation in the last session of the day.
Vettori (15) was dismissed leg-before by Ali before Anderson (50) was dismissed by the same bowler when he tried to hit him out of the ground but could only find Shah on the mid-wicket fence.

Wicketkeeper BJ Watling didn't last much longer either and was dismissed for eight when he was out leg-before to Mohammad Hafeez.
Tim Southee joined Mark Craig at the wicket, and once again the Kiwi assault continued.

Together they saw New Zealand to the 600 mark in just 124 overs, another record.

The pair added 91 for the eighth wicket before Southee (50) attempted one big hit too many and only managed to sky a Shah delivery to the long-on fence. 

Southee's two sixes meant the Kiwis broke Australia's long-standing record of 17 sixes in an innings, setting the new mark of 19 with more potentially on the way on Sunday.

Craig was unbeaten at the other end on 34 not out.

The Pakistani bowling figures aren't much to write home about, although Ali battled manfully and finished with figures of 4/89 off 25 overs. 

For Zulfiqar Babar and Mohammad Talha it's been a match to forget – they finished the day with figures of 0/135 from 23 overs and 0/137 from 22 overs respectively. 

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