PAKISTAN openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt fired a century partnership to keep their series hopes alive in the third Test against New Zealand.

Resuming the third day on 346-6, New Zealand opened up a first-innings lead of 248 with the help of Daryl Tuffey’s Test best 80 not out.

Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria ended up with figures of 7-168.

But Farhat, who starred in Pakistan’s first innings of 223, made 55 and Butt 66 as the tourists reached 128-0.

With the three-match series finely poised at 1-1, Pakistan needed a good start to their second innings after their first innings collapse.

And although they are still 120 runs behind, the efforts of Farhat and Butt have ensured a fascinating final two days in Napier.

In the morning session, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and Tuffey guided the hosts to 471.

Tuffey was dropped early on by Gul but brought up the 50 partnership when he cut Kaneria for four while Vettori escaped a strong lbw appeal – Pakistan unable to call for a review having used up their allocation the previous day – before falling to Umar Akmal’s stunning catch for 134.

Tim Southee was dismissed for a duck before Tuffey brought up his maiden Test half-century with a four through the covers off Mohammad Asif.

Iain O’Brien was neatly stumped by Kamran Akmal for 19 just after lunch, having put on 62 with Tuffey, and the innings ended with Chris Martin – Test average 2.30 – going for a four-ball duck, given lbw to Kaneria.

Farhat and Butt then built a strong foundation for hosts, with the former bringing up the 50 stand with his fourth boundary while McCullum fumbled a ball onto the fielders’ helmet to concede a five-run penalty.

He reached 50 from 126 balls while his partner, who edged O’Brien just short of Ross Taylor at slip, took 134 balls to make his half-century. (BBC Sport)
PAKISTAN first innings 223, I. Farhat 117 not out; I. O’Brien 4-35
New Zealand first innings o/n 346 for 6t
T. McIntosh c wkp. K. Akmal b Kaneria 74
B. Watling c U. Akmal b Asif 18
M. Guptill Lbw b Kaneria 13
R. Taylor c Yousuf b Kaneria 21
D. Flynn c K. Akmal b Kaneria 5
D. Vettori c U.Akmal b Asif 134
B. McCullum c F. Iqbal b Gul 89
D. Tuffey not out 80
T. Southee lbw b Kaneria 0
I.O’Brien stp K.Akmal b Kaneria 19
C. Martin lbw b Kaneria 0
Extras: (b-8, lb-4, w-2, nb-4) 18
Total: (all out, 139 overs) 471
Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-82, 3-118, 4-136, 5-145, 6-321, 7-408, 8-409, 9-471, 10-471
Bowling: M. Aamer 22-6-74-0 (nb-1, 1-w), M. Asif 31-10-103-2 (w-1), U. Gul 33- 5-114-1 (nb-3), D. Kaneria 53-10-168-7.

PAKISTAN second innings
I.Farhat not out 55
S. Butt not out 66
Extras (lb 1, nb 1, pen 5) 7
Total (0 wickets; 56 overs) 128
Bowling; C. martin 10-3-20-0, T. Southee 10-2-25-0 (1nb), I. O’Brien 10-0-32-0, D. Tuffey 9-0-24-0, D. Vettori 15-8-16-0, M. Guptill 2-1-5-0.