Vettori dismissed on 99 as NZ pass 400

DUNEDIN: New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori was dismissed for 99 as the Black Caps passed 400 to take control of a rain-interrupted first test against Pakistan in Dunedin.

Vettori was dismissed two balls before the end of the second day, one run short of what would have been his fifth test century.

New Zealand were 404-8 when bad light finally stopped play at 7.04pm.

Vettori had been left stranded on 87 for three hours and 20 minutes as rain forced players off the University Oval.

But he quickly got back into his groove only to be caught behind off the bowling of paceman Umar Gul.

The players went off one ball later in what was a disappointing end to another good day''s work by New Zealand.

A superb partnership between Vettori and Brendon McCullum allowed New Zealand to take a grip on the mach.

Having resumed the second day at 276-6, Vettori and McCullum extended their partnership through to 164 before McCullum was bowled for 78 just before lunch.

New Zealand had added 99 runs in the first session.

Both batsmen had profited from their positive approaches before Pakistan paceman Umar Gul struck with a Yorker in the last over before lunch to remove McCullum.

Vettori and Shane Bond carried on before the rain came midway through the second session, at 2.55pm.

The players returned at 6.35pm with New Zealand at 381-7 and playing hours extended through to 8pm if the light allowed.

This is the first of three tests in the series.