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Youhana & Farhat see Pakistan home

Thursday, January 8 2004

2nd ODI, New Zealand v Pakistan at Queenstown

Composed knocks from Imran Farhat & Yousuf Youhana have guided Pakistan to a series leveling 6 wicket win against New Zealand at Queenstown.

Pakistani skipper Inzamam Ul-Haq won the toss & took a punt, sending New Zealand in on a pitch expected to offer a little bit of help early on.

His move was justified early on as Mohammad Sami removed Craig Cumming leg before for naught & Shabbir Ahmed had Hamish Marshall well caught by Youhana for 10.

However Stephen Fleming continued to play his strokes despite the situation, Scott Styris was unable to repeat his efforts from match 1 of this series, never looking comfortable during his stay & eventually falling to Azhar Mahmood for 10.
Fleming then holed out off Malik for a well made 43(69 balls, 6 fours), leaving his side in more than a spot of bother at 4/79 in the 23rd over.

Chris Cairns lackluster form continued, bowled by Abdul Razzaq for 9, while Craig McMillan was tied down by the accurate Razzaq & troubled by the probing Malik, eventually edging behind off the spinner for 25, leaving his side 6/112 in the 33rd over.

With Jacob Oram & Brendon McCullum at the crease things werent looking good for the black caps, however slowly but surely the pair began to lift, working the ball around early before bringing out the more agricultural shots as the innings drew to a close.

Oram eventually bowled by Sami for 54(61 balls, 5 fours) in the 46th over, ending a crucial 91 run stand from just 95 balls, McCullum then got stuck in at the death to finish with an unbeaten 56 from just 51 balls (6 fours), his 2nd ODI half century.

The Blackcaps finishing on 7-235, Abdul Razzaq bowled with superb control to finish with 1-24 from his 10 overs, while Mohammad Sami bowled well at times on the way to 3-52, although his control was a problem, bowling 7 wides.

Things started poorly for Pakistan with Yasir Hameed falling victim to Ian Butler for just 2, however Imran Farhat soon began to utilize his wide range of strokes to great effect, with help from the erratic Butler, by the time Saleem Elahi edged behind for 14 the visitors had moved along to 52 in the 13th over.

Yousuf Youhana looked the part from the moment he walked out to bat, taking a particular liking to Chris Cairns & Daniel Vettori en route to a polished half century, the classy right handers 143 run stand with Farhat all but ending New Zealands hopes of taking a 2-0 lead.

Farhat eventually falling to Vettori for 87(104 balls, 8 fours, 1 six).

Skipper Inzamam edged behind off Tuffey for 14 when the game was as good as won, leaving Shoaib Malik unbeaten on 9 & Youhana with a typically classy 88 not out (106 balls, 10 fours).

Tuffey was clearly the pick of the bowlers, keeping a tight line in the face of Youhana’s onslaught to finish with 1-28 from 10.

Apart from Jacob Oram he received only limited support.

Score Summary

New Zealand 7-235 (McCullum 56*, Oram 54, Sami 3-52)
Pakistan 4-236 (Youhana 88*, Farhat 87, Tuffey 1-28)

Pakistan win by 6 wickets
Man of the Match - Yousuf Youhana

Written by David Hotink

Posted by James