Tue, 08 Mar 2011 - New Zealand vs Pakistan, World Cup 2011, 24th match Group A - Preview

Kiwis seek consistency as Pakistan look to maintain top spot

Preview : Group A Match - New Zealand v Pakistan

Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Start Time: 14:30 (IST)

Off late, two teams have played a lot of cricket with each other and either side should be familiar with strengths and weaknesses of other. But Tuesday fixture in Sri Lanka will be altogether a different affair with so much to play for. It was during the New Zealand tour before the world cup where Pakistan’s resurgence started and have emerged as a force in the tournament to reckon with. So much so, they top the group A points table with three wins in as many matches including victory against Sri Lanka. Pakistan, however, survived Canada scare thanks to five wicket haul of their captain to help his side to defend a low target of 184 runs.

New Zealand have been anything but consistent in the tournament. They blew away Kenya in first match and were treated with same medicine by Aussie pace battery but came back well to rout Zimbabwe by ten wickets. After being beaten in test and ODI series by Pakistan recently, Kiwis should know that beating this Pakistan side isn’t an easy affair. For that to happen, they need to bring consistency to their game as they look to qualify for the knock out stages. Pakistan have made it clear that they want to top the group A table to avoid playing against a bigger team in quarter-final that would motivate them to put in extra on field in this game. Both teams have a common forte-unpredictably. They can rout any side on their day  but same can be done to them if they are switched off.

Playing all of its games in Sri Lanka, thus, familiar with conditions and kind of a team composition they have, Pakistan should start as favourites for this encounter. Weathermen have predict ted clear skies on Tuesday with temperature in early 30’s degree Celsius which is a good news after big game between Sri Lanka and Australia was abandoned due to heavy rains. The pitch is expected to be full of runs and will offer some help to fast bowlers early in the innings and get slower in the later stages of the game.

Pakistan

If we minus skipper, Shahid Afridi from current Pakistan team, it would make this side an ordinary one. All three Pakistan victories have been inspired by Afridi taking wickets when his team has needed them the most as he leads the bowling charts with 14 scalps. Opening partnership of Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmad Shahzad has come under a lot of flak as both have failed in all three matches to post a substantial score. They have deprived their team from a decent start in what have turned out to be testing conditions for the duo.

They will be under spotlight against New Zealand as well with Pakistan looking to them for a decent start and both will be under pressure to perform. Middle order again will revolve around Misbah-ul Haq-Younis Khan partnership with Kamran Akmal, having failed to convert starts into big scores; keen not to repeat the mistake of throwing it away.

Much hyped power hitters in Umar Akmal, Afridi and Abdur Razzaq, who many believe should play at top of the order, have misfired and trio would be keen to live up to the expectation of their fans and team management. Batting line-up, which combusted for paltry score against Canada, will want to bounce back against New Zealand. Bowling line-up, as usual, is very potent and return of pacemen Shoab Akhter who sat out of game against Canada would add to the firepower. It would be interesting who opens bowling with Shoab after Umar Gul bowled his heart out against Canada with the new ball which has been done by Abdur Razzaq in previous matches. Spin department led by Afridi has variety thanks to aggressive off-spin of Saeed Ajmal and miserly Mohammad Hafeez. Fielding is one department where Pakistan would like to improve on as fielders have dropped too many catches and given away easy runs in the field.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (c), Misbah-ul-Haq, Ahmad Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdur Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Syed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Shoab Akhter and Umar Gul, Coach: Waqar Younis

New Zealand

New Zealand have looked a side with more bowling resources than in batting. Bowlers have won  both matches for them while batsmen have either been untested with all wins coming by 10 wickets and failed miserable against Australian pace to be folded for a small total.

If Pakistan have a  weakness in opening department , New Zealand openers have been a real strength for the team finishing both the chases in a blink without being separated. Brendon Mcullum and Martin Guptil have looked in good aggressive form tearing part weak bowling attacks of Zimbabwe and Kenya and their real test would be against impressive Pakistan new ball bowlers. Middle order batting unit is what has worried and disappointed Kiwi team management as runs have dried up from batsmen. Jesse Ryder good knocks have been few and far between and New Zealand’s best batsman, Ross Taylor has looked woefully out of form recently adding to the Kiwi woes.

New Zealand would desperately want its middle and lower order to come up with decent knocks to help it to derail Pakistan who have been all over them in recent encounters. Bowling has looked decent with the return of Kyle Mils who had a good outing against Zimbabwe while Hamish Bennet is improving by every match he plays. Southee who has good numbers against Pakistan would like to repeat that and slow medium of Styris will be crucial in middle overs to contain Pakistan batting line-up. Kiwis have a good spin department with world’s best left arm spinner Daniel Vettori, skipper in their ranks. He will be well aided by accurate off-spin of Nathan Mcullum.

Squad: Daniel Vettori (c), Ross Taylor (Vice Captain), Hamish Bennett, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, B McCullum (wk), Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Kane Williamson, Luke Woodcock. Coach: John Wright