Shane Bond is back but Pakistanis unshaken

Shane Bond rolled back the years and Umar Akmal gave a glimpse of Pakistan's batting future before New Zealand finished the stronger on the third day of the first Test on Thursday.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Bond heralded his return to the Test format for the first time in two years with a compelling three-wicket burst, finishing with 4-93 from 24 overs.

But by the close of play at University Oval Umar Akmal, a 19-year-old debutant, and his elder brother Kamran had taken their side from the brink of collapse to 8-307 at stumps.

Umar's scintillating 129 from 160 balls - the 11th century by a Pakistani on debut - made amends for a middle order wobble as the siblings piled on 176 runs for the sixth wicket after the tourists were 5-85.

Both were gone by stumps but the deficit was trimmed to 122 after New Zealand's innings closed on 429.

Tailenders Mohammad Aamer (12) and Mohammad Asif (0) will resume on Friday.

Already averaging a respectable 44.10 from 10 one-day internationals, Umar raced to his maiden Test fifty from 57 balls with nine boundaries and a six before reverting to defensive mode as Kamran, the vice-captain and wicketkeeper, played catch up.

Daniel Vettori ended an enterprising 257-ball stand, though the captain's left arm spin rarely threatened.

Bond was denied during his initial first six-over burst with the new ball, but the 34-year-old's second spell was reminiscent of his best.

It illustrated what New Zealand had been lacking in the 20 Tests he missed through injury-enforced retirement and subsequent self-imposed exile to the Indian Cricket League.

His first wicket since Herschelle Gibbs exited at The Wanderers on November 11, 2007 was a stunning return catch.

Mohammad Yousuf stood in disbelief on 17 as Bond, diving at full stretch, clasped a prodded drive centimetres above the turf.

Then with the second ball of his next over, Fawad Alam (29) could not help fending a brute to Brendon McCullum's gloves.

Shoaib Malik (2) completed the procession when his cramped attempt at a cut crashed onto his offstump.