A solid day's cricket where everyone got their milkshakes. While we had to endure ... nah it was beautiful to watch so, while we admired Mohammad Hafeez slicing and dicing at the crease, we still got what we wanted as Black Cap fans.

Let's be honest, Hafeez was great to watch. Whether chipping a six or hitting a cut shot perfectly past backward point, it was great. In fact Pakistan stuck me as being slightly great as they again brought in a new face, they're not only playing great cricket but they're building some quality depth with Mohammad Talha getting a run as a seam/pace option.

3 wickets on a shitter of a pitch, when your opponent wins the toss and bats, isn't too bad. It was great to see Daniel Vettori back and get a wicket. Vettori hasn't really bowled with 2 other spinners throughout his career so it was very interesting, because you saw how good Vettori is. Every ball is up there in a good area, if he slips short and gets punished, he'll be back on a good length the next ball. He looks lean and fit. While he was battling many injuries, he looked a little chunky but he looks every bit an international cricketer.

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Mark Craig picked up the other 2 wickets and the rest of the bowlers toiled hard. But I was super duper impressed by the fielding, it's the standard of fielding that Mike Hesson and Brendon McCullum would demand. Not just the effort involved, like when Tom Latham chased a ball all the way to the boundary just to save a run, but it's the near perfection with how they execute their slides and dives. Latham wrapped himself around the ball and tapped it in while Ish Sodhi ran one down, slid alongside the ball then got up and threw it in as part of the one motion - one bounce over the top of the stumps. It all looks crisp and they can use their fielding as a bit of a weapon as well.

The lads will have to take a few wickets early on today. Put some pressure on Pakistan and build some momentum. Otherwise Pakistan will bat all of day 2 and a draw will be the best result for the Black Caps.