Taylor blistering century sets up NZ victory
Ross Taylor’s blistering century and aggressive opening burst from the new ball bowlers helped New Zealand to defeat Pakistan by a big margin of 110 runs in group A played at Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy.
Chasing a target of 303 runs, Pakistan top order was rocked back early in the piece by disciplined bowling performance by new ball pair of Tim Southee and Kyle Mills reducing Pakistan to 66 for the loss of six wickets.
From then Pakistan never looked in contention barring 7th wicket and 9th wicket partnership between Abdur Razzaq and Umar Gul.
Southee was in a terrific form swinging the ball from the both ways and removing three top order batsmen Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul Haq before contributing anything to the scoreboard.
His partner Mills wasn’t far behind getting the wickets of Ahmad Shahzad and Younis and Pakistan slumped further when Jacob Oram had Afridi cleaned bowled at team score of 66.
Umar Akmal and Razzaq tried to resurrect the sinking innings with partnership of 46 runs but couldn’t go further when Umar was hold out to Nathan Mcullum long hop in the mid wicket. Mcullum added to his wicket tally trapping Abdur Rehman leg before the wicket.
The wicket brought Umar Gul to the crease which marked the best period of Pakistan batting effort and he along with Razzaq put on 66 runs at a good pace.
Razzaq who started very slowly, all of a sudden, exploded to unfurl some aggressive shots during his 74 ball 62 including nine hits to the fence while Gul was fluent playing some delightful strokes to give fans something to cheer.
Scott Styris had last two wickets getting Razzaq and Akhter caught in the deep to round off brilliant all-round performance of the Kiwis.
After opting to bat first, Ross Taylor mauled Pakistan bowlers in the death overs to power his side to mammoth 302 runs. Taylor scored his fourth ODI century and remained undefeated on 131 off 124 balls including eight fours and seven huge sixes to take hapless Pakistan bowling line up to the cleaners.
Such was the hitting prowess of Taylor that 92 runs were scored off last four overs with Shoab going for 28 and Razzaq hit for 30 in their respective overs during those four overs. Rehman was carted for 44 in his two he bowled during the carnage period.
Taylor, birthday boy, who was dropped on nought and four by Kamran Akmal in one Shoab Akhter over, consumed lot of deliveries for the first fifty but exploded in last four overs to make mockery of Pallekele boundary.
For Pakistan, Umar Gul was the successful bowlers taking three wickets for 32 runs in his ten while Afridi took a wicket in his ten conceding 55 runs. Hafeez was also amongst wickets giving away 26 runs in his seven taking a wicket also but other bowlers went for plenty.
New Zealand started off in a bizarre fashion with Shoab castling Brendon Mcullum in his first over but Guptil kept on scoring runs hitting some beautiful drives during his 86 ball 57.
Scott Styris, Nathan Mcullum and Jacob Oram’s 9 ball 25 runs contributed to Kiwi big score.
Kamran Akmal also contributed to the Kiwi cause dropping as many as three catches including two of Taylor and gave many runs behind the stumps to add to Pakistan miseries.
Man of the Match: Ross Taylor
Pakistan chase in shambles
Pakistan were 45 for the loss of five wickets in the end of fifteen overs while chasing a target of 303 runs set by New Zealand in group A match played at Pallekele Stadium, Kandy.
New Zealand fast bowlers made the most of the conditions ripping heart out of Pakistan batting line up with Southee taking three wickets.
His bowling partner bowled beautifully by taking two wickets.
Taylor’s smashing century powers NZ to 302
Ross Taylor mauled Pakistan bowlers in the death overs to power his side to mammoth 302 runs after opting to bat first against Pakistan in group A match at Pallekele, Kandy.
Taylor scored his fourth ODI century and remained undefeated on 131 off 124 balls including eight fours and seven huge sixes to take hapless Pakistan bowling line up to the cleaners.
Such was the hitting prowess of Taylor that 92 runs were scored off last four overs with Shoab going for 28 and Razzaq hit for 30 in their respective overs during those four overs. Rehman was carted for 44 in his two he bowled during the carnage period.
Taylor, birthday boy, who was dropped on nought and four by Kamran Akmal in one Shoab Akhter over, consumed lot of deliveries for the first fifty but exploded in last four overs to make mockery of Pallekele boundary.
For Pakistan, Umar Gul was the successful bowlers taking three wickets for 32 runs in his ten while Afridi took a wicket in his ten conceding 55 runs. Hafeez was also amongst wickets giving away 26 runs in his seven taking a wicket also but other bowlers went for plenty.
New Zealand started off in a bizarre fashion with Shoab castling Brendon Mcullum in his first over but Guptil kept on scoring runs hitting some beautiful drives during his 86 ball 57.
Scott Styris, Nathan Mcullum and Jacob Oram’s 9 ball 25 runs contributed to Kiwi big score.
