New Zealand and Pakistan drew the first Test of their two-match series on Tuesday when bad light stopped play after tea on the fifth day, with the hosts struggling on 96 for eight in their second innings.

Once the players left the field, rain began to fall and the covers were put over the wicket as Pakistan's push for an unlikely victory was dashed by the weather.

After the first session of the day was lost to rain, the sides were given a total of 75 overs to bowl and Pakistan wasted little time putting the hosts under pressure with fast bowler Mohammad Sami leading the attack.

When the bad light came, Sami had taken five for 44, with Daniel Vettori his last victim, brilliantly caught at second slip by Taufeeq Umar for 20 leaving the home side with a lead of 196 runs with two wickets and 35.5 overs remaining.

Vettori, a century-maker in New Zealand's first innings of 563, had shared in a potentially match-saving partnership with Jacob Oram of 43.

When New Zealand resumed their second innings with a lead of 104, the chances of any result other than a draw seemed remote.

However, Sami removed Stephen Fleming (0), Scott Styris (20), Robbie Hart (0) and Vettori and for good measure threw a return over Moin Khan's stumps to run out Craig McMillan for two.

Umar Gul chipped in with two wickets, Mark Richardson for 15 and Chris Cairns, a first ball duck which removed his off stump.

The hosts resumed their second innings on four for no wicket after bowling out Pakistan for 463. New Zealand had notched up 563 in their first innings.

The second Test of the series begins in Wellington on Friday before the sides play five one-day internationals.

Scoreboard

New Zealand (1st innings): 563 (S.Fleming 192, D.Vettori 137 not out; Shabbir Ahmed 5-117).

Pakistan (1st innings): 463 (Moin Khan 137, Yasir Hameed 80, Inzamam-ul-Haq 51, Abdur Razzaq 48; Daryl Tuffey 5-80)

New Zealand (2nd innings):
M.Richardson c Moin b Gul 15
L.Vincent c Imran Farhat b Sami 4
S.Fleming c Moin b Sami 0
S.Styris c Taufeeq b Sami 20
C.McMillan run out (Sami) 2
C.Cairns b Gul 0
J.Oram not out 23
R.Hart b Sami 0
D.Vettori c Taufeeq b Sami 20
D.Tuffey not out 1

Extras: (nb-6, w-1, lb-4) 11

Total: (for eight wickets, 41.1 overs) 96

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-13, 3-42, 4-42, 5-42, 6-47, 7-52, 8-95.

Bowling: Mohammad Sami 16-4-44-5 (nb-4, w-1), Shabbir Ahmed 10-7-10-0, Umar Gul 8.1-2-25-2 (nb-1), Kaneria 4-2-6-0, Abdul Razzaq 3-1-7-0.

Did not bat: I.Butler

Result: Match drawn

The second Test begins in Wellington on Friday, December 26.