Daniel Vettori laments another abject surrender as New Zealand crash to a humiliating defeat in Hamilton
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori was a dejected man after his team slid to an embarrassing defeat in a matter of a session on the third day of the first test against Pakistan. In what would go down as one of the most astonishing collapses
in recent test history the hosts lost all 10 wickets in the last session of the day to hand Pakistan the match after it was evenly poised at the tea break.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 team had accumulated a lead of 92 runs and the Kiwis had moved to 33 for no loss at the tea interval.
The match took a dramatic turn after the interval as the hosts crashed to a dismal 110 all out in less than two hours, they set Pakistan a 19 run target which the tourists achieved with all their wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead in the two match series.
"I think we fought pretty hard in the morning to give ourselves a chance to come back into the game," Vettori said, after New Zealand bowled Pakistan out for 367 in their first innings. "The three seam bowlers had to work pretty hard throughout,
but then to let it all slip with a familiar batting performance in the third innings leaves a really sour taste."
The dramatic collapse was hardly expected on a wicket that had looked full of runs, the conditions were also favoring the batsmen as a sunny day meant batting was the easier bid. "You need to make good decisions in Test cricket. There
were four or five today, run outs, rash shots, bad decision-making and it all adds up to being bowled out for 110."
Vettori had few positives coming from the match, he felt that the swashbuckling opener Brendon McCullum was the star act in their line-up and batted with a clear mind, a trait that was missing in most of the other batsmen.
He added that the coach of the team John Wright has given the players a piece of his mind after their failure which was not expected at the highest level. "Brendon's obviously been outstanding since he became an opener and Timmy McIntosh
got a 100 two Test matches ago. There have been some good performances from everyone in that top six, but we are just going to have to become more consistent."
"You have to look pretty closely at your own performance. [John Wright] and myself have spoken to the team and there were a lot of harsh words. Wrighty stated quite emphatically that things have to change; you can't keep putting those
performances together. He wants to be part of the change and obviously I do too, so it's got to start at the base."
Meanwhile Vettori praised the bowling performance of the Pakistanis in the second innings, he stressed that the bowlers made brilliant use of the lifeless track as they probed away on a perfect length and line. He especially lauded the
effort of left arm pacer Wahab Riaz who bowled an extended spell in the last session of play.
"Riaz in particular came in, bowled a ten over spell and really gave them the impetus to come hard at us."
The two teams are set to play the second test match in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864 from the 15th of this month; the hosts would have to come up with something special if they are to avoid another backlash from the rampant Pakistanis.
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