UMAR Akmal announced his arrival in the Test arena with an impressive century on debut, as he and his brother Kamran hauled Pakistan out of the mire on day three of the first Test against New Zealand.

Chasing the Black Caps’ first innings total of 429, Pakistan were left reeling on 85 for five at University Oval in Dunedin after Chris Martin and Shane Bond had ripped through the top of the order.

But showing maturity beyond his 19 years, Umar Akmal sparked a stirring fightback as he brought up a maiden Test 50 in just 57 balls, including one sweeping six off Daniel Vettori, and continued to play his shots to reach three figures in 132 balls in the final session.

He showed no nerves whatsoever in the nineties, hitting Iain O’Brien for four then six, before his 16th boundary lifted him to 101 the very next ball.

Even his brother’s dismissal in the next over for 82 did not distract the teenager and he continued to frustrate the New Zealand bowlers until he holed out to Peter Fulton at deep backward point off Bond when on 129.

His 160-ball innings included 21 boundaries and two sixes.

Pakistan will resume today on 307 for eight, 122 runs behind, after Umar and Kamran’s partnership of 176 runs ensured they avoided the follow on – something that was a distinct possibility after Bond had taken three wickets in 10 balls in his spell after lunch.

Playing in his first Test in two years, the 34-year-old showed just why he is one of the most feared bowlers in international cricket as he dismissed dangerman Mohammad Yousuf, Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik in quick succession. (Eurosport)
NEW ZEALAND first innings o/n 404 for 8
T. McIntosh b Aamer 0
M. Guptill c Alam b Aamer 60
D. Flynn c (wkp.) Akmal b Asif 8
R. Taylor c Farhat b Ajmal 94
P. Fulton b Asif 29
G. Elliott c (wkp.) Akmal b Asif 8
B. McCullum b Umar Gul 78
D. Vettori c wkpr Akmal b Gul 99
S. Bond wkpr Akmal b Asif 22
I. O’Brien not out 13
C. Martin lbw b Saeed Ajmal 0
Extras: (lb-14, w-1, nb-3) 18
Total: (all out; 131.5 overs) 429
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-27, 3-144, 4-192, 5-210, 6-211, 7-375, 8-402, 9-428.
Bowling: Mohammad Aamer 24-3-87-2, Mohammad Asif 34-6-108-4, Umar Gul 36-10-129-2 (nb-3, w-1), Saeed Ajmal 37.5-10-91-2.

PAKISTAN first innings
K. Manzoor b Martin 6
I. Farhat lbw b Martin 22
F. Alam c (wkp.) McCullum b Bond 29
M. Yousuf c &b Bond 17
U. Akmal c Fulton b Bond 129
S. Malik b Bond 2
K. Akmal c Taylor b Vettori 82
M. Aamer not out 12
U. Gul lbw b Vettori 6
M. Asif not out 0
Extras: (nb-2) 2
Total: (8 wickets, 90 overs) 307
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-43, 3-74, 4-79, 5-85, 6-261, 7-293, 8-302.
Bowling: Bond 24-4-93-4, Martin 18-7-52-2 (nb-2), O’Brien 21-3-98-0, Vettori 27-7-64-2.