Put Live Cricket Score Card for your Website / Blog | Tell a friend | Bookmark it | FAQs | Feedback | Home |

Johannesburg, Oct 2 (IANS) Pakistan will be the favourites on the bouncy Wanderers track when they take on New Zealand in the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy here Saturday.

The strip at the Wanderers with its pace and bounce has favoured the bowlers and it will not be surprising if Friday's clash turns out to be another low scoring affair.
Pakistan have improved with each match here, registering comprehensive wins over India and West India in the first two matches and then losing a last-ball thriller against defending champions Australia.
Their pace battery -- comprising Umar Gul, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, teenaged Mohammad Aamer and comeback man Mohammad Asif -- has been their strength and all the bowlers have come up with impressive spells. The pacers have got full support from the spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi.
Pakistan's batting too has shown promise and the middle-order comprising former captain Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf has ensured stability in the run flow.
Conversely, the Black Caps have been hit by injuries with all-rounder Grant Elliot facing the danger of joining the growing injured list of Jesse Ryder (groin), Daryl Tuffey (hand) and Jacob Oram (hamstring).
Elliott injured his right thumb while batting during New Zealand's four-wicket victory over England. The Black Caps have already flown in all-rounder Scott Styris as a replacement if the need be.
The New Zealand bowling has been in fine touch with Kyle Mills and Shane Bond delivering the goods for the team.
Younis said toss will play a crucial role.
"I think if the wicket plays the way it has behaved so far, the toss could play an important role in the outcome. The pitch provides assistance to bowlers and even facing the part-timers becomes all the more difficult," Younis said.
New Zealand can take heart from the fact that they have won both of their matches at this venue. They beat Sri Lanka and England to become unexpected toppers of their Group B.
The teams (from):
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum (wicket-keeper), Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Ross Taylor, Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Iain O'Brien, Aaron Redmond, James Franklin.
Pakistan: Younus Khan (captain), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal. © IANS