Wellington, Nov.30 (ANI): New Zealand fast bowler Iain O’Brien has credited three factors for his role in ensuring a 32-run first test victory for his side over Pakistan.When a tired yet proud New Zealand side touched down in Wellington yesterday, O’Brien said the wallop on the hand - his bowling hand - that left him with a dislocated middle finger actually galvanised him.

Stuff.co.nz quotes him as saying that the electric atmosphere at Dunedin’s University Oval and the thought at the back of his mind that his career was on the line were also factors behind his sterling display of stamina and success.

O’Brien bowled 13 overs in succession from the southern end, the first four before the tea interval and then nine afterwards for a return of 3-35.

At tea Pakistan were 165-5, only 86 runs shy of victory but O’Brien and Shane Bond operated at seemingly full tilt for 16 overs to pull the first test out of the fire.

O’Brien, 33, will have his finger assessed today but seemed confident of being fit for the second test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, starting on Thursday.

“It’s swollen, it’s sore, it’s bruised but it bends okay so we’ll find out tomorrow when it’s properly checked out,” O’Brien said. (ANI)