Right since the first ball was bowled by Pakistan, NewZealand openers Rob Nicol and Kane Williamson clearly displayed their intentions of taking risks, running fast across the pitch and hitting as and when possible without fear to surpass the target set for them by Pakistan as 177. Especially the former was more aggressive in hitting the ball for a four and a six in his score of 19 on 19 balls in 5th over of the game. He hit 2 fours in the fifth over of the game in an effort to bring up the low average of NZ team that was going around 7. 5 and the demand of the hour was over 9.25 runs per hour.
First wicket fell that of Rob Nicol at the bowling of Shahid Afridi, when he got bowled out by an intelligent cutter by Afridi at his individual score of 33 made in 28 balls with 3 fours and a six and the total was 53 in 7th over of the game. Brendon McCullum joined Williamson on the crease to take the batting further. Williamson was next to go when he got run out at his score of 15 made on 13 balls with the help of 2 fours. NZ was 54 for 2 in 8th over.
Next to join the batting was captain Daniel Vettori. Required run rate at the end of 8 overs was over 10 runs per over and a quick hitting was required to bring it down and not letting it pile up further. At the end of 9th over NZ were 62 for loss of 2, requiring 116 runs in 11 overs averaging to slightly over 11 runs an over. There was quite a normal, patient kind of batting going on even when the average run rate asked for 2 runs a ball. Requiring 102 runs on 50 balls was quite an alarming state.
NZ were 83 for 2 by the end of 12th over. 95 were required on 48 balls. Situation was not too good for NZ when they were 92 for 2 at the end of 13th over. 7 overs left and 86 runs were yet to be scored in 42 balls. Average was more than 12 runs per over. McCullum was seen quite helpless in finding good ball to send beyond boundary. Run rate was staggering around 7 or so. NZ crossed 100 on the last ball of 14th over.
Last 6 over and 76 to score. Vettori got out on first ball of 15th over at 18 and Ajmal taking his first wicket of the game. Total score was 102 for loss of three wickets. Jacob Oram coming at number 5 joined McCullum and the target was seemingly very difficult for NZ team by now. 32 balls and 71 runs to e made. At the end of 15th over NZ were 108 for loss of 3 wickets needing 70 runs in 30 balls meaning 14 runs an over. First ball of 16th over by Umar Gul saw McCullum losing his wicket getting bowled out in an awkward manner. He made 32 runs in 31 balls with 4 fours and a six. Ross Taylor joined in at number 6.
It was a stage when only some miracle could save NewZealand. NZ batsmen were not getting enough space to hit balls from Pakistani bowlers for fours or sixes. Only singles and doubles were not enough at this stage. 15 runs an over in last 4 overs was a big deal for NZ.
In last 4 overs, it was 57 runs. Saeed Ajmal clean bowled Jacob Oram taking his 2nd wicket in his 3rd over. Oram was gone at 11 with 2 fours made in 7 balls. NZ was at 122 for 5.
James Franklin joined in for the rest of formality 53 runs and 19 balls when Ross Taylor went for a big six. Last 3 overs and the score required was 47 runs, a slightly less than 16 per over. Sohail Tanvir bowled the 18th over. First ball and went for a six by Franklin. 17 balls and 41 runs required. Second ball went for a four. 16 balls and 37 runs required.
Third ball came in as a smart yorker and only a single could be made. Fourth ball and only a single. Fifth ball and James Franklin was caught out while trying for a big hit. Nathan McCullum was next to join in on the crease. It was 13 runs made in this 18th over with the loss of a wicket.
2 overs left and 34 runs to be made. 17 runs per over in next 12 balls. Equation was almost 3 runs a ball. First ball to Ross Taylor by Umar Gul went for a four. 11 balls and 30 runs required. Next ball again went for a four. 10 balls and 26 runs. Third ball sent to leg side for a four. 9 balls and 22 runs required. Ross Taylor was 25 runs in 10 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Next ball was disastrous for Taylor, when he got run out, walking down to pavilion before third empire's decision came in declaring him out. It was now 8 balls and 23 runs to be made with Tim Southee taking the command to bat. Only a run could be made. Last ball of second last ball and only a run. So it was 6 balls and 19 runs required in the last over.
Nathan McCullum was on strike and bowling end was with Ajmal. One run on first ball. 18 runs required on 5 balls. Missed the ball and no runs. 4 balls and 18 runs. 3rd Ball of the over, and Southee gave a simple catch to Umar Gul. 3 balls and 18 runs required. Only 3 sixes could save the game for NZ.
Four on 4th ball reduced the balance to 14 runs required in last 2 balls. Nathan McCullum got out on the second last ball of the game, trying to hit a six on the leg side.
One ball and 14 runs - NZ has no change to save the game. Adam Milne walked in as the last batsman from NZ. They were 164 for the loss of 9 by now. No runs on the last ball.
Pak wins by 13 runs.
First wicket fell that of Rob Nicol at the bowling of Shahid Afridi, when he got bowled out by an intelligent cutter by Afridi at his individual score of 33 made in 28 balls with 3 fours and a six and the total was 53 in 7th over of the game. Brendon McCullum joined Williamson on the crease to take the batting further. Williamson was next to go when he got run out at his score of 15 made on 13 balls with the help of 2 fours. NZ was 54 for 2 in 8th over.
Next to join the batting was captain Daniel Vettori. Required run rate at the end of 8 overs was over 10 runs per over and a quick hitting was required to bring it down and not letting it pile up further. At the end of 9th over NZ were 62 for loss of 2, requiring 116 runs in 11 overs averaging to slightly over 11 runs an over. There was quite a normal, patient kind of batting going on even when the average run rate asked for 2 runs a ball. Requiring 102 runs on 50 balls was quite an alarming state.
NZ were 83 for 2 by the end of 12th over. 95 were required on 48 balls. Situation was not too good for NZ when they were 92 for 2 at the end of 13th over. 7 overs left and 86 runs were yet to be scored in 42 balls. Average was more than 12 runs per over. McCullum was seen quite helpless in finding good ball to send beyond boundary. Run rate was staggering around 7 or so. NZ crossed 100 on the last ball of 14th over.
Last 6 over and 76 to score. Vettori got out on first ball of 15th over at 18 and Ajmal taking his first wicket of the game. Total score was 102 for loss of three wickets. Jacob Oram coming at number 5 joined McCullum and the target was seemingly very difficult for NZ team by now. 32 balls and 71 runs to e made. At the end of 15th over NZ were 108 for loss of 3 wickets needing 70 runs in 30 balls meaning 14 runs an over. First ball of 16th over by Umar Gul saw McCullum losing his wicket getting bowled out in an awkward manner. He made 32 runs in 31 balls with 4 fours and a six. Ross Taylor joined in at number 6.
It was a stage when only some miracle could save NewZealand. NZ batsmen were not getting enough space to hit balls from Pakistani bowlers for fours or sixes. Only singles and doubles were not enough at this stage. 15 runs an over in last 4 overs was a big deal for NZ.
In last 4 overs, it was 57 runs. Saeed Ajmal clean bowled Jacob Oram taking his 2nd wicket in his 3rd over. Oram was gone at 11 with 2 fours made in 7 balls. NZ was at 122 for 5.
James Franklin joined in for the rest of formality 53 runs and 19 balls when Ross Taylor went for a big six. Last 3 overs and the score required was 47 runs, a slightly less than 16 per over. Sohail Tanvir bowled the 18th over. First ball and went for a six by Franklin. 17 balls and 41 runs required. Second ball went for a four. 16 balls and 37 runs required.
Third ball came in as a smart yorker and only a single could be made. Fourth ball and only a single. Fifth ball and James Franklin was caught out while trying for a big hit. Nathan McCullum was next to join in on the crease. It was 13 runs made in this 18th over with the loss of a wicket.
2 overs left and 34 runs to be made. 17 runs per over in next 12 balls. Equation was almost 3 runs a ball. First ball to Ross Taylor by Umar Gul went for a four. 11 balls and 30 runs required. Next ball again went for a four. 10 balls and 26 runs. Third ball sent to leg side for a four. 9 balls and 22 runs required. Ross Taylor was 25 runs in 10 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Next ball was disastrous for Taylor, when he got run out, walking down to pavilion before third empire's decision came in declaring him out. It was now 8 balls and 23 runs to be made with Tim Southee taking the command to bat. Only a run could be made. Last ball of second last ball and only a run. So it was 6 balls and 19 runs required in the last over.
Nathan McCullum was on strike and bowling end was with Ajmal. One run on first ball. 18 runs required on 5 balls. Missed the ball and no runs. 4 balls and 18 runs. 3rd Ball of the over, and Southee gave a simple catch to Umar Gul. 3 balls and 18 runs required. Only 3 sixes could save the game for NZ.
Four on 4th ball reduced the balance to 14 runs required in last 2 balls. Nathan McCullum got out on the second last ball of the game, trying to hit a six on the leg side.
One ball and 14 runs - NZ has no change to save the game. Adam Milne walked in as the last batsman from NZ. They were 164 for the loss of 9 by now. No runs on the last ball.
Pak wins by 13 runs.
No comments :
Post a Comment
Thanks for visiting and commenting.