New Zealand vs Pakistan- http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 Group D - Match Preview
In a much awaited clash, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 will take on New Zealand in the 9th game of the ICC World T20 at the Pallekele Stadium on the 23rd of September 2012. This will be the first time that Pakistan will feature in the tournament after their
warm up matches. New Zealand managed to thrash Bangladesh by 59 runs on Friday in the lead up to this all important game.
The match will be played at 1530 local time. The venue has historically suited seam bowlers, with very little turn on offer for the spinners. Pakistan heavily bank upon their spin attack to win games, whereas New Zealand’s outing against Bangladesh helped
their seamers get considerable match practice ahead of this much awaited clash.
The last game was a high scoring affair, with the Kiwis amassing 191 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs. Batting has been difficult under lights, with the ball nipping around far more frequently. New Zealand managed to exploit the lateral movement on offer
in their encounter against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 and unlike the surfaces in Hambantota and the Premadasa stadium, the track at Pallekele would assist the seamers more and test the astuteness of the batsmen.
Off late, the Pakistan batting line-up has struggled against quality seam bowling in the Emirates against Australia, and the Kiwis would bank upon their conventional fast bowling strength to take the early initiative in the game. Pakistan however, has a
potent fast bowling attack and would need to ensure that the right combination in their bowling department is secured in order for them to push New Zealand hard.
Friday’s game demonstrated how spin on the Pallekele wicket was hammered by the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BB-McCullum-c1129 and Co, and the script could be pretty much the same if Pakistan continues to rely heavily on their spin attack. The potency of bowlers such as Sohail
Tanvir and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Arafat-c98241 has been questionable in recent times and Pakistan could ill afford to temper or experiment with their fast bowling combination.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604 however, will be the key man for Pakistan given his outstanding record in T20 cricket, and his ability to reverse the ball. The track is tailor made for Gul to exploit the lateral movement on offer and it is a strong possibility that he could single-handedly
bulldoze the Kiwi line-up which looks fragile beyond the prowess of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980 and McCullum.
The key man therefore, for the Kiwis remains their record breaking wicket-keeper batsman. His annihilation of Bangladesh on the same wicket should send ominous signs to the Pakistani bowling line up, which is prone to complacency and unconvincing performances
on the field on an off day. McCullum’s stay at the crease for four overs would be a damning indictment for Pakistan as his ability to take the game away from the opposition is widely acknowledged.
Both teams have had mixed success in the T20 format in the lead up to this tournament. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the Emirates, although their bowling did most of
the damage in that series. At this venue, New Zealand and Pakistan have played just once in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, where New Zealand managed to thrash Pakistan by 110 runs in a Group fixture. The T20 format is different however, and it remains to
be seen how both these unpredictable teams pave out on Sunday.
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