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Black Caps take 2-1 series lead

Sunday, January 11 2004

A gutsy century by Stephen Fleming has lead New Zealand to a 7 wicket victory and a 2-1 series lead with 2 games remaining.

There was one change to both teams with Kyle Mills coming in for Ian Butler and Shoaib Akhtar coming in for Shabbir Ahmed.

Stephen Fleming won the toss and chose to bowl first on a flat Jade Stadium wicket which was talked about being the best batting pitch in the country.

Pakistan got off to a bit of a flyer with Hameed and Farhat taking to the bowling of Tuffey and Mills. However in the 9th over Farhat attempted a hook shot off Mills and was caught behind for 17 to leave Pakistan 50-1.

Hameed was the next to go with the score at 72 for a well made 44 off 51 balls.

Yousuf Youhana and Saleem Elahi then looked to put together a good partnership and did so for a while before Youhana was brilliantly runout by Cumming for 36 with the score at 144. On the same score and only 3 balls later Inzamam-ul-Haq played a loose shot and was out for 0 to see Pakistan in trouble at 144-4 off 30 overs.

In Tuffey’s next over Shoaib Malik was caught by Fleming off Tuffey for 0 and Pakistan were 5-152 and in danger of not making a competitive score.

Two other quick wickets were then taken by the New Zealanders and at 7-190 the tail needed to get some quick runs and get Pakistan up to a decent score. That’s exactly what they did with Abdul Razzaq smashing the erratic Kiwi bowlers to all corners of the ground in making 50 off only 26 balls with 4 boundaries and 3 sixes.

Pakistan finished up at 255-9 with Saleem Elahi making a well made 80 and the powerful Abdul Razzaq making a hard hitting knock of 50 not out.

With Shoaib Akhtar coming back into the side New Zealand knew this would be difficult score to knock off but thanks to a well paced hundred from Stephen Fleming they made it with ease. Hamish Marshall supported his captain well in making 65 and must now have almost secured the number 3 spot in the eyes of the selectors.

Craig Cumming was again disappointing with the bat in being dismissed by Mohammad Sami for 3 and must be on thin ice for the remaining ODIs.

Craig McMillan started to find some form in batting confidently for 36 not out despite nearly running Stephen Fleming out on 99.

The series now moves to Napier on Wednesday where Pakistan will be looking to get back into the series while New Zealand will be looking to wrap the series up.

Score Summary

Pakistan 255/9 (S Elahi 80, A Razzaq 50*, Y Hameed 44, Y Youhana 36, S Styris 2/14, D Tuffey 2/45)

New Zealand 259/3 (S Fleming 115*, H Marshall 64, C McMillan 36*, S Malik 1/40, S Akhtar 1/43)

New Zealand won by 6 wickets

New Zealand lead the series 2-1 with two matches remaining

Posted by James