Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 3rd ODI, Christchurch, preview
The third One Day International (ODI) between New Zealand and Pakistan is scheduled to begin on the 29th of January at the AMI stadium, Christchurch.
New Zealand have a 1-0 lead in the series and Pakistan are still in the hunt of a series leveller as the washed out second game of the six-match series wooed their hopes of making a comeback.
Before the rain interruption at Queenstown, the Pakistani openers put up a good show in the face of bowling-friendly conditions. Ahmed Shehzad in particular made Tim Southee look like an ordinary bowler after his heroics in the first match and the hat-trick
in the T20I at http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Auckland-c766.
The start to the series has been a typical Pakistani one. They rose up to the expectations and gave the world of cricket a glimpse of their stumbling capabilities yet again.
The batting line-ups of both the teams are fragile, having the tendency to collapse like a house of cards. The Kiwi batsmen in this series, however, seem to have learned their lessons as they have looked like a resolute unit against the Pakistani bowlers
ever since the start of the tour except that one collapse in the second innings of the first Test match, at Hamilton, that cost them the series.
The men in green on the other hand have a lot to think about. Except for the Test series, their batting form in the T20 series and the one ODI so far has been deplorable except for the consistent skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Luke-Woodcock-c1860
are going to replace them.
After the explosive innings of Jesse Ryder upfront in the first match, Jamie How, is going to open the batting with Martin Guptill, which makes things a little ambiguous about the roles of the two.
Being the senior of the two, Guptill, will have the immense responsibility to attack as well as keep the innings together for the team.
In another shocker the authorities have also decided to rest Daniel Vettori in this match and Ross Taylor will take the leading role, Kyle http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mills-c76321, is likely to make a comeback.
Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 might toss the new ball in Hamish Bennett’s hands tomorrow in the absence of James Franklyn. His ability to hit the deck hard and extract bounce from the pitch along with good pace might well prove lethal for the vulnerable Pakistani upper order.
New Zealand have won only one ODI after a string of 11 eleven losses, there is no doubt that they have to find the right combination before the World Cup. But decisions that could cost them a series right before the mega event does not seem like a viable
option, if I was John Wright I would be asking myself if I am experimenting a tad too much.
Pakistan’s 26-ball long approach in the second match was obvious, the best way to defend is to attack. They can afford to have a positive attitude but with a batting line-up full of potential talent and lacking in reliability they need to be a little careful
especially with shot-selection.
They made things very simple for the Kiwi bowlers in the first game. Kamran Akmal combusted, the rest fell to that corridor of uncertainty, and, steep bounce in a myriad of identical dismissals.
As far as this venue is concerned the Kiwis have an excellent record here winning three of every four matches they have played at the AMI stadium, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 have lost all except one. The toss is going to be important as the teams batting second have a clear
advantage but it is still unclear as to how the pitch and more importantly the ball is going to behave under floodlights.
There are chances of a few showers on the big day so we can only hope that we get to see a complete and uninterrupted competition.
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