Jacob Oram hopes of Kiwi resurgence in final ODI against Pakistan
The New Zealand team is bitterly disappointed with their first series loss to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 at home in 17 years, and are raring to make a difference. These were the claims of burly all-rounder Jacob Oram, who
has struggled to make an impact in the 50 overs contests after recovering brilliantly from an injury that threatened his career until last year.
Oram had surgery performed on his knee and was almost down and out before making a dramatic recovery which has seen his inclusion in the World Cup team. However, the big hitting all-rounder is yet to translate
that determination that made him succeed against the injury onto the field, as the hosts conceded the series to the men in green.
Oram revealed to the local media that captain Daniel Vettori, who sat out the Hamilton game due to a hamstring injury, gave a serious dressing down to the squad as they crashed to a 41-run defeat at Seddon
Park - a venue where teams had successfully chased down totals in the last 10 games.
Vettori was adamant that the team was not pulling its weight through and - according to Oram – he minced no words in expressing himself in a meeting at the end of the match.
The meeting was held at the match venue and only included the players, as the team management was left out.
"Basically Dan kicked the management and support staff out, or maybe they just chose not to come and look us in the eye," Oram said. "For an hour-and-a-half it was just the players in the dressing room and
we didn't get back to the hotel till 12.30am."
The Black Caps have endured a wretched run in the ODI format, where they have lost 14 of their last 15 completed ODIs, including the loss at Hamilton.
The last match of the series is being played at the Eden Park in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Auckland-c766 and Oram hopes that the team puts into practice what they planned about at the meeting under Vettori.
"We're just trying to get to the bottom of what is going on. We're not far away but it's happened too often for it to be just a coincidence. As we said, talent isn't the issue. We all know how good the individuals
in this team are. We're not gelling and we're not taking responsibility for winning the match for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754."
The match at Hamilton was a personal failure with the bat for the left-handed Oram, who holed out to Umar Akmal off pacer Umar Gul as the hosts searched for quick runs during the power play overs at the death
of their innings.
Oram, a right-arm bowler, had a good day in the field and played a pivotal role in restricting the free scoring Pakistani batsmen in the power play session of their own after opener Ahmed Shehzad had set
the foundations of a big score with a scintillating hundred scored at more than a run a ball.
The match at the Eden Park is crucial for the hosts as they aim to close their home season with a win after disappointing results in the Test match format and the ODI series. The home season had gotten off
to a good start for them as they won the three-match T20 series, yet it has all gone downhill for them from there.
The Black Caps would be hoping to carry some momentum in the World Cup; over the years they have done well in the competition and have made it to the semi-finals on four occasions, losing each time.
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