Play was severely restricted by bad light and rain in the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan on Sunday.

Pakistan, replying to the home team's huge first innings total of 563, took their overnight score from 118 for two to 227 for four as only 38.2 overs were bowled on the third day.

No play was possible after tea but New Zealand coach John Bracewell said he was still hopeful of getting a result.

"I'm not concerned about the overs we've lost because we can make up time these days," Bracewell told reporters. "But the wearing of the wicket is a problem because when we get out there tomorrow (Monday) we'll still be playing on a third-day wicket.

"When you get a big score, you want the wicket to deteriorate. We would have liked some sun on the pitch to help it deteriorate."

Earlier, Yousuf Youhana and Yasir Hameed took their third-wicket stand to 79 before Youhana was caught by Lou Vincent in the gully off seamer Daryl Tuffey for 28.

That brought skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq to the crease and he helped Hameed add 75 for the fourth wicket.

UNCERTAIN WEATHER

But Tuffey claimed his third victim of the innings when he trapped Hameed lbw for 80.

Inzamam was 38 not out at the close and Abdul Razzaq unbeaten on 12.

Bracewell said the uncertain weather had an affect on his bowlers.

"The guys would have been thinking 'how long are we going to be on the park?', and that means the bowlers try too hard and forget about the actual discipline needed," he said.

"It's a patience game. If you err off a length to these guys they hit you for four."

Bracewell, though, was full of praise for Tuffey, who returned figures of three for 60 to take his wicket tally in Tests to 58.

"I just love the release of the ball from Daryl," Bracewell said. "He gained a lot of confidence out of the (recent) Indian tour, he got the feel of being able to perform offshore and that's given him a huge boost."

Scoreboard:

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

Pakistan first innings:
Imran Farhat c Hart b Oram             20
Taufeeq Umar c Butler b Tuffey        27
Yasir Hameed lbw b Tuffey              80
Yousuf Youhana c Vincent b Tuffey  28
Inzamam-ul-Haq not out                   38
Abdul Razzaq not out                        12

Extras: (nb-12, lb-4, w-6) 22

Total: (for four wickets) 227

Fall of wickets: 1-47 2-55 3-134 4-209

Bowling: Tuffey 18-4-60-3, Butler 9-1-62-0, Oram 13-4-34-1, Cairns 9.2-0-32-0, Vettori 12-0-29-0, Styris 5-2-6-0.

To bat: Moin Khan, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Umar Gul