Napier, Dec 13 NZPA - Daniel Vettori's 134 and a maiden test half-century by Daryl Tuffey maintained New Zealand's grip on the third and final cricket test against Pakistan at McLean Park here today.

At lunch on the third day New Zealand were 466 for eight, holding an overall lead of 243 runs after resuming on 346 for six.

A charmed Tuffey was unbeaten on 76 alongside Iain O'Brien, who also had a life eight runs into his 18 as Pakistan's catching woes resurfaced.

These two have added 57 for the ninth wicket after Vettori, who completed his third test century of the year shortly before stumps yesterday, continued his expansive approach before it led to his downfall when an uppish drive was taken acrobatically by Umar Akmal at extra cover.

Restarting on 100, he was on track to surpass his previous highest score of 140 -- made against Sri Lanka in Colombo in August -- when Pakistan had rare cause to celebrate a stunning catch.

Tuffey, whose previous test best was 35 against Pakistan at Hamilton in 2003, benefited from the tourists' poor standard of fielding in this series. He was missed by Faisal Iqbal at bad pad when on 14 and two runs later Umar Gul could only get a fingertip to a top-edged sweep shot at fine leg.

Tuffey's reprieves were costly as the fast bowler reached his 50 from 88 balls with his fifth boundary.

He and Vettori put on 87 for the seventh wicket, scoring at better than a run-a-ball pace in the first hour by adding 62 from 16 overs as Pakistan's attack failed to derive any assistance from a flat pitch.

Mohammad Asif, the series leading wicket taker, finally ended Vettori's contribution, the captain marking his promotion to No 6 by striking a dozen boundaries and a six during a 186-ball stay notable for a 176-run partnership yesterday with Brendon McCullum, who made 89.

Legspinner Danish Kaneria dropped Vettori on 97 yesterday and his luck deserted him again today when he seemingly had him leg before wicket on 133. West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove rejected the appeal and Pakistan could not refer the decision to third official Simon Taufel because they used up their two unsuccessful challenges under the umpires decision review system trying to get rid of McCullum on six and 15 yesterday.

Kaneria finally completed the 14th five-wicket bag of his 55-test career when Vettori's replacement, Tim Southee, was leg before wicket for a third-ball duck but he was denied Tuffey's wicket on 63 when umpire Rudi Koertzen detected a non-existent inside edge.

Kaneria had figures of five for 166 from 51 overs, 10 of which were maidens.

Mohammad Aamer remains wicketless after Umar Akmal dropped O'Brien in the gully, Pakistan's 16th spilled catch of the series.

NZPA AKL cb md