New Zealand take steady start against Pakistan in ICC World Cup 2011 Group-A match
New Zealand reached 99 runs for the loss of two wickets, half way through their innings, in their Group-A match against Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2011, at the Pallakele International Cricket Stadium, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat first. The wicket had some grass on it, which indicated that fast bowlers would get some pace from it. However, Vettori claimed that there wasn’t much for the bowlers in the wicket, and the
batsmen would score runs easily.
The match between Pakistan and New Zealand is the debut match at the Pallakele Stadium. It will be interesting to see how the wicket reacts in the second half of the game.
The opening over by Shoaib Akhtar was full of action. The veteran pacer was smashed for a massive six over mid-wicket off a free hit by Brendon McCullum on the third ball of the over. However, the Rawalpindi Express gave a perfect reply to McCullum, disturbing
his timber on the very next ball he bowled.
The flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman was sent back to the pavilion after adding just six runs to the score board. His wicket was followed by Jamie How’s dismissal, who scored a struggling innings of four runs from 29 balls.
The innings was then stabilised by opener Martin Guptill, and middle order player Ross Taylor. The pair constructed an unbeaten 44 runs until the 25th over, guiding their team close to 100 runs.
Guptill was unbeaten on 52 from 75 balls whereas http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 was batting on 25 off 46 balls at the end of 25 overs. The pair will be looking forward to bat steadily for at least 10 more overs and then unleash. Considering the nature of the wicket, anything close
to 250 will be a fighting target for Pakistan.
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 will be eying to take a few quick wickets especially of the settled batsmen. The men-in-green will be confident of restricting New Zealand below 230, as they have some quality bowlers in their line-up.
The two wickets to fall were taken by the Pakistani pacers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 14 wickets, will be looking forward to adding more wickets to his tally.
Tags: