6th Match: New Zealand v Pakistan at Sharjah, 15 Apr 2002 CricInfo Live Report

6th Match: New Zealand v Pakistan at Sharjah, 15 Apr 2002
Agha Akbar

Pakistan innings: 15 overs, End of match,
Pre-game: Pre-match,
New Zealand innings: 15 overs, 30 overs, End of innings,

NEW ZEALAND BRUSHED ASIDE WITH 18 OVERS TO SPARE
SHARJAH — Pakistan had come into this match with their backs to the wall, their honour at stake. They were threatened with elimination at the venue where they have won more games than at home. And they silenced all doubters by powering their way into the final with consummate ease.

Chasing a very modest 214, and docked one over for overstepping the deadline, Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir devastated the Black Caps attack, putting it to the sword without mercy to carve out a comfortable win, by eight wickets, with nearly 18 overs to spare.

Shahid Afridi pummelled Ian Butler for a four at long-off to seal the victory which had more or less been delivered by the end of the 15th over, with Pakistan making 103 just for the loss of Nazir.

Pakistan had been off to a turbo-charged start and as Nazir got out, Pakistan was already 101, and scoring as rapidly as 6.9 runs an over, the openers had done their job, reducing the remainder of the chase to a mere cakewalk. In statistical terms, the asking rate was a mere 3.3 runs an over.

But the way Afridi was now playing, his bat bludgeoning relentlessly, it wouldn’t have mattered had the task been far steeper. He made 108, his third hundred in one-day cricket, and it came off just 92 deliveries, with the help of 8 sixes and 7 fours. But more than the sum total of his runs, or its intrinsic value in Pakistan’s victory, it was the way he tore the attack into smithereens which must have filled the Kiwi hearts with fear and awe. Exactly the kind of influence Pakistan would have wanted on the eve of their rescheduled tour.

Afridi did give a chance, but only a ghost of one, at 89, but so ferociously was the ball hit that Oram at short covers could not have held on to it. By then the horse had bolted the stable anyway. The rest was all clean hitting, too clean for Kiwis comfort.

On a comeback trail, it was first Nazir who blasted the New Zealand attack with such high quality shots, mostly in front of the wicket, the hallmark of real calibre. Starting with a four at extra cover, he carved Ian Butler for another three fours in his next two overs. Fleming took Butler out of the attack, but Andre Adams was treated even more severely as Nazir took a couple of twos, and then ferociously cut and drove him for two boundaries at point and covers respectively to take Pakistan to 51, off only 49 deliveries. Most amazingly, while Nazir’s share in the total was 45 off 31 deliveries, Afridi had made just three off 18 deliveries.

Adams induced the edge in his next over, but the ball fell safely and ran to the third man fence; it was Nazir’s 50, his fifth in one-day cricket coming off just 38 deliveries, with the help of eight fours.

Afridi, who till now had looked like a strokeless wonder, decided that enough was enough and lofted Adams to the cover boundary. That opened the floodgates, and Nazir delicately guided Styris, brought on in hapless Adams place, to long leg fence, and later in the over Afridi clubbed him for a straight six and a four to long on. In Styris’ next over, Afridi was even harsher on him, and despite Fleming bringing on a fielder on the fence, he still clouted him for three sixes on the same spot, long on, to take Pakistan galloping to 101, off just 85 deliveries.

At this point, leggie Brooke Walker struck, as Nazir tried to sweep him to fine leg and Sinclair took the edge off a miscue. Yousuf Youhana seemed to be in great form in his brief cameo, making 24 off 29 deliveries with three fours and a six. But it didn’t matter as by now, Afridi was in full cry, and Inzamam (18, off 16 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) was content playing second fiddle to him.

Earlier, the Black Caps, having won the toss and electing to bat, got off to a blazing start, their best of this tournament with the openers contributing 75 runs at better than a run a ball. But then they lost four wickets in the space of only 18 deliveries for the addition of just four runs. They were never to recover from this dramatic collapse, and eventually finished at 213 for 9, the lowest by any side batting first.

And it was such a far cry from what they would have expected when they had such a remarkably stroke-filled beginning. But right when the Pakistani bowlers were all at sea, and skipper Waqar Younis looked desperate for a break, more than anything else the Black Caps over-impetuosity set them back. One has to grant Younis that, when he and his partner in pace Akram not only failed in getting a breakthrough but were most unceremoniously hit all over the park too, he immediately made two inspiring bowling changes, bringing on Shoaib in the 11th and Saqlain in the 12th over. And it was these two who bailed him out, getting him not one but three breakthroughs, with Jacob Oram committing hara-kiri in getting himself run out.

Once those four wickets were gone, it was always going to be uphill, more so with Fleming gone at the half-way stage. To their credit, Styris (43, 63 balls, 1 four, 1 six), Harris (35, 67 balls 4 fours), and Adams a quicksilver 21 (28 deliveries, 1 four and 1 six, both in one Waqar over) contributed vital runs, 112 runs in the last half of the innings. But all it did was add some respectability to the total, and nothing more.

Before that quartet of wickets, however, it was all New Zealand. Dealing almost exclusively in boundaries, Astle clobbered Pakistan’s much vaunted pace attack, with authority bordering on disdain. It seemed to be his day, and whatever he tried came off. He started off by straight-driving Akram and then Younis to extra cover for boundaries. In the meanwhile, Horne took a boundary off Akram, lofting him over the in-field to mid-wicket fence.

New Zealand was well and truly cruising, when Astle clubbed Younis for three boundaries in one over, and then smote Akram’s good length delivery for a straight six. Saqlain, brought on early for the 12th over, was clubbed for a straight six by Horne, but the champion off-spinner avenged himself next ball. Horne failed to read his straight one, and offered a caught and bowled chance to Saqlain who pouched it with unconcealed joy.

Fleming sent in Oram to reinforce the good start, with the purpose of pinch-hitting Pakistan’s attack into submission. Little did he know that it had really started unraveling for him. In Saqlain’s next over, Astle tried to hit him out of the ground, and miscued; Waqar ran backward at long-on with such intensity as if his life depended on it, bringing off a remarkable diving catch. Next over, Shoaib’s in-shooter dismantled Mathew Sinclair’s middle and off stumps. Later in the over, Oram, going for a run, stopping many times over, ran himself out, as Akram made no mistake running in from long-on with an underarm throw.

A superb New Zealand start had ended up in shambles, and the target they eventually gave Pakistan was not likely to save the day for them.

After the close Shahid Afridi was declared Man of the Match.

PAKISTAN TOO STRONG FOR BLACK CAPS
SHARJAH—Chasing a very modest 214, and docked one over for overstepping the deadline, Imran Nazir and Shahid put the Black Caps pace attack to the sword to get Pakistan off to a turbo-charged start. By the end of the 15th over, Pakistan had powered on to 103 for the loss Nazir’s wicket. But by then, scoring as rapidly as 6.9 runs an over, the openers had done their job, reducing the remainder of the chase to a mere cakewalk. In statistical terms, the asking rate was a mere 3.3 runs an over.

On a comeback trail, Nazir blasted the New Zealand attack with high quality shots. Starting with a four at extra cover, he carved Ian Butler for another three fours in his next two overs. Fleming took Butler out of the attack, but Andre Adams was treated even more severely as Nazir took a couple of twos, and then ferociously cut and drove for two boundaries at point and covers respectively to take Pakistan to 51, off only 49 deliveries. Most amazingly, while Nazir’s share in the total was 45 off 31 deliveries, Afridi had made just three off 18 deliveries.

Adams induced the edge in his next over, but the ball fell safely and ran to the third man fence; it was Nazir’s 50, off 38 deliveries, with the help of eight fours.

Afridi, who till now had looked like a strokeless wonder, decided enough was enough and lofted Adams to the cover boundary. That opened the floodgates, and Styris brought on in hapless Adams place was delicately guided to long leg fence by Nazir, and later in the over clobbered him for two sixes, straight and at long on. In Styris’ next over, Afridi was even harsher on him, and despite Fleming bringing on a fielder on the fence, he still clouted him for three sixes on the same spot, long on, to take Pakistan galloping to 101, off just 85 deliveries.

At this point, leggie Brooke Walker struck, as Nazir tried to sweep him to fine leg, Sinclair to the edge off a miscue.

NEW ZEALAND SET A 214 RUN CHASE FOR PAKISTAN
SHARJAH–The Black Caps, having won the toss and electing to bat, got off to a blazing start, their best of this tournament with the openers contributing 75 runs at better than a run a ball. But then they lost four wickets in the space of only 18 deliveries for the addition of just four runs. They were never to recover from this dramatic collapse, and eventually finished at 213 for 9, the lowest by any side batting first.

And it was these two who bailed him out, getting him not one but three breakthroughs, with Jacob Oram committing hara-kiri in getting himself run out.

Once those four wickets were gone, it was always going to be uphill, more so with Fleming gone at half way stage. To their credit, Styris (43, 63 balls, 1 four, 1 six), Harris (35, 67 balls 4 fours), and Adams a quicksilver 21 (28 deliveries, 1 four and 1 six, both in one Waqar over) contributed vital runs, 112 runs in the last half of the innings. But all it did was add some respectability to the total, and nothing more.

Before that quartet of wickets, however, it was all New Zealand. Dealing almost exclusively in boundaries, Astle clobbered Pakistan’s much-vaunted pace attack, with authority bordering on disdain. It seemed to be his day, and whatever he tried came off. He started off by straight-driving Akram and then Younis to extra cover for boundaries. In the meanwhile, Horne took a boundary off Akram, lofting him over the in-field to mid-wicket fence.

New Zealand was well and truly cruising, when Astle clubbed Younis for three boundaries in one over, and then smote Akram’s good length delivery for a straight six. Saqlain, brought on early in the 12th over, was clubbed for a straight six by Horne, but the champion off-spinner avenged himself next ball. Horne failed to read his straight one, and offered a caught and bowled chance to Saqlain who pouched it with unconcealed joy.

Fleming sent in Oram to reinforce the good start, with the purpose of pinch-hitting Pakistan’s attack into submission. Little did he know that it had really started unraveling for him. In Saqlain’s next over, Astle tried to hit him out of the ground, and miscued; Waqar ran backward at long-on with such intensity as if his life depended on it, bringing off a remarkable diving catch. Next over, Shoaib’s in-shooter dismantled Mathew Sinclair’s middle and off stumps. Later in the over, Oram, going for a run stopping many time over, ran himself out, as Akram made no mistake running in from the long-on.

A superb New Zealand start had ended up in shambles, and the target they eventually gave Pakistan was not likely to save the day for them.

BLACK CAPS SET FURTHER BACK
SHARJAH—Having pegged the New Zealand back with a four-wicket burst in 18 balls, Pakistan did’nt allow them to make a comeback. The scoring was reduced almost to a crawl in the middle overs, with the Black Caps adding only 30 runs between 16 and 30 overs. To make matters worse, they lost skipper Fleming in this period, leg before to Razzaq, who could have had Scott Styris in the same over too.

Razzaq indipper hit Styris right in front, and with no shot offered it was as plumb a case of leg before as any. But perhaps umpire Srinavasan Venkatraghavan thought that since he had given one leg before decision on the previous delivery, and that was enough. More so because Fleming had cause to feel hard done by since the delivery had marginally landed outside leg stump.

Anyway, the slow-scoring meant that the run rate dropped to under four, from six-plus at the stroke of 15 overs. But Harris and Styris being the last recognised pair the Kiwis expected them to settle down first before forcing the pace of scoring.

From Pakistan’s point of view, they needed to go for the jugular, which they did not. And it was quite surprising to not to see Wasim Akram in action for a brief second spell.

BLACK CAPS IN SHAMBLES AFTER A ROLLICKING START
SHARJAH—In nine encounters in this desert emirate, the Black Caps had not beaten Pakistan even once. In this final league game of Sharjah Cup 2002, they started off as if they wanted to change that but the early promise faded away as four quick wickets were lost.

Fleming won the toss, and openers Mathew Horne and Nathan Astle finally came good by producing 75 runs for the first wicket in about 12 overs – their best start, and at better than a run a ball.

Dealing almost exclusively in boundaries Astle clobbered the much-vaunted pace attack of Pakistan, with authority and disdain. It seemed to be his day, and whatever he tried came off. He started off by straight-driving Wasim Akram for a boundary, and treated Younis similarly to extra cover. Horne took a boundary off Akram, lofting him over the in-field to mid-wicket fence.

New Zealand was well and truly cruising, when Astle clubbed Younis for three boundaries in one over, guiding him to the third man fence, than driving him to extra cover and straightish long-on. He smote Akram’s good length delivery for a straight six, and then off-drove Younis for a four.

The situation was desperate, and Younis, having been hit for 28 runs in five with Akram doing only slightly better conceding 26 in the same number of overs, rang bowling changes. Shoaib Akhtar was brought on from the pavilion end and Saqlain Mushtaq quite early in the 12th over from far end. Horne smote Saqlain for a straight six, but the champion off-spinner had his revenge next ball. Horne failed to read his straight one, offered a caught and bowled chance which the bowler accepted with unconcealed joy.

Fleming sent in Jacob Oram to reinforce the good start, with the purpose of pinch-hitting Pakistan’s attack into submission. Little did he knew that it had really started unraveling for him. Horne’s wicket was the start of a serious collapse, and four wickets were lost in the space of just 18 deliveries, for the addition of only four runs, to leave the New Zealand innings in tatters at 79 for four.

Astle tried to hit Saqlain out of the ground, and miscued; Younis ran backward with such intensity as if his life hung on it, and took a remarkable diving catch. Next over, Shoaib struck, his in-shooter dismantling Mathew Sinclair’s middle and off stump. Later in the over, Oram, going for a run stopping many time over, ran himself out, as Akram made no mistake running in from the long-on.

A great New Zealand start had ended up in shambles, and it was left to those two old war horses, Fleming and Harris to try and resurrect it.

NEW ZEALAND WIN TOSS AND BAT FIRST IN KEY SHARJAH ONE-DAYER
Stephen Fleming won the toss and elected to bat first in the final league match of the Sharjah Cup.

Its a must win game for both sides to get a place in the final against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

New Zealand are suffering from some injury problems and Pakistan are suffering from their brittle batting problems.

Yesterday we saw persistent and accurate NZ bowling tie down Sri Lanka to a low score but the New Zealand batting could not capitalise on it while facing the tremendous Sri Lanka spin attack. Today New Zealand will have to face the Pakistan pace attack.

This should be a high tension nervy game with both teams not wanting to give an inch.

Teams:

New Zealand: NJ Astle, MJ Horne, +MS Sinclair, *SP Fleming, CZ Harris, SB Styris, JDP Oram, AR Adams, BGK Walker, DR Tuffey, IG Butler.

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Abdur Razzaq, +Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, *Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar.