Brilliant Jamieson continues fine form

There's a thrill unlike anything else in cricket when you watch a fast bowler on top of his game; a quick who looks like taking a wicket with every delivery.

Kyle Jamieson, from the Botanic Gardens End, was terrific, using his tall frame and high action to hit lengths that dared batsmen to press forward while also threatening to break fingers.

Jamieson took five for 69 as New Zealand overcame some stiff Pakistan resistance to dismiss the tourists for 297 at close of play on the opening day of the second and final Test at Christchurch on Sunday. He has 30 wickets in 11 innings so far and has taken a fifer in every Test series he has played so far.

Azhar Ali and in particular Mohammad Rizwan were not ready to play the victims and Rizwan looked to take the attack to Jamieson. Jamieson eventually won the battle, Rizwan edging through to BJ Watling for 61, continuing a series where he has passed 50 in all three knocks and has looked a class above most of those above him in the order. Jamieson couldn't account for Azhar (93), however.

Bowling with real venom and bounce, the 26-year-old sent back opener Abid Ali, Haris Sohail and Fawad Alam in three overs, the latter with an unplayable delivery that the batsman could only fend away from his helmet with his glove.

Jamieson's piece de resistance was to follow. Bowling to Fawad Alam, who had scored a brilliant back-to-the-wall century at Mt Maunganui, Jamieson used his 2.03m frame to extract wicked bounce from a good length.

It was all Fawad could do to throw his hands in front of his face and balloon the ball to BJ Watling. It was as close to unplayable as you can get.