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PK-NZ: Razzaq sees off Kiwis

Sunday, November 30 2003

Abdul Razzaq bludgeoned 47 in double-quick time to see off a spirited New Zealand Challenge in a run-filled first One-Day International by three wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

New Zealand, wracked by injury and withdrawals from the squad due to the supposed safety issues of touring Pakistan, gave ODI debuts to an incredible six players. Openers Craig Cumming and Rob Jones, batsman Hamish Marshall, all rounder Matt Walker and bowlers Michael Mason and Kerry Walmsley all made their bows whilst Pakistan named a more experienced side without a single debutant - which makes a change, given the PCB's past record.

Kiwi skipper Chris Cairns, deputising for the injured Stephen Fleming, won the toss and his new openers did not disappoint, creating a far firmer platform than the debacles that occured so often during the recent TVS Cup, with Cumming the more impressive of the two, helping to make Mohammad Sami's first four overs cost 30. He made 25 before Shabbir Ahmed found a bit of extra bounce and he top edged a pull to cover, and Jones fell soon after, chipping Razzaq back through the gate onto the stumps.

Marshall and Mathew Sinclair did not let the momentum slip, however, and both made fifties as they successfully kept the scoreboard ticking over through the difficult "middle 25" overs. Sinclair was first to fall for 55 after chasing a wide outside off stump, missing it and being smartly stumped by Moin Khan. Marshall fell not too long after - also for 55, and also off 76 balls - trapped in front by the impressive Shabbir. At 179/4 with ten overs remaining, New Zealand hoped the big-hitting Cairns and Jacob Oram would take them to a target in excess of 250.

This was the way it looked after 47, with the score having moved onto 233, yet with Cairns starting to open up, there were signs of the carnage to follow. Danish Kaneria (0/76) was dispatched for three consecutive sixes by the skipper before Oram joined in the fun off Sami (0/67). Oram fell to Razzaq, caught well by Misbah-ul-Haq on the rope at long on, but having crossed, Razzaq wasn't spared the pain as twenty-three game from the remaining six deliveries - his no ball didn't help matter. Cairns ended unbeaten on 84 with his last 43 coming off just 12 balls.

Set an imposing 292 to win under lights, Pakistan started poorly as Michael Mason bounced back from his opening no-ball to entice an edge out of Imran Farhat that Brendon McCullum was only too happy to accept. Yasir Hameed and Yousuf Youhana seemed unruffled by this, however, as they pushed singles and twos constantly as well as hitting the bad balls - from Cairns in particular - for four. The skipper's two overs cost 23.

The introduction of Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram stemmed the flow of runs and may well have been partially responsible for the run out of Youhana for 42 that broke the partnership, Hamish Marshall's direct hit proving good enough after the TV replay was called for. Hameed (52) then hit Oram's slower ball straight to Sinclair at cover and all of sudden it was 95/3. It was time for another rebuilding act, this time with Moin and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq at the helm. Yet the run rate continued to rise, up to above 7 an over after 26.

The Pakistanis failed to revert to type, and the festival of swipes, hoiks and general agricultural desperation that many expected did not appear as the two batsmen - neither famed for his pace between the wickets - kept control of the game and the run rate with both using the aerial route to good effect at times into the bargain. The partnership had reached 99 and Inzamam 49 when Cairns struck to trap his opposing captain leg before.

As is so often the case, one brought two as Moin (43) tried to cut a shorter ball from Vettori, but only succeeded in nicking it to McCullum. In two overs, the game had changed completely and new men Misbah and Shoaib Malik were unable to keep up with the required run rate, as it rose above 9 an over.

Both fell in the space of six balls in similar manners, as attempted big hits over mid wicket resulted in skied catches at mid on, Cumming and Walker both making no mistake, the latter giving Kerry Walmsley his first ODI wicket. This left Razzaq and Sami with 65 to get off 6.3 overs.

What should have been an impossibilty inexplicably ended up as a formality as New Zealand incredibly allowed the runs to be knocked off from just 27 balls. Seven came off the second half of the 44th over, followed by 12 off the next two. McCullum dropped another simple chance with Razzaq on 22 and 34 still needed off the first ball of the 47th over, and with it probably the match. 18 and 16 came off the 47th and 48th as Razzaq (47* off 22 balls including 3 fours and 2 sixes) and Sami (17* off 8 balls including 2 sixes) made a mockery of the New Zealand attack.

Pakistan will now expect to build on this confidence-boosting display - in which five batsman all made forty-plus - whilst the inexperienced visitors will need to focus on the positive aspects of the game, rather than the annihilation suffered at the death.

The two sides stay in Lahore for Monday's second match - also a day-nighter, before the series moves on the Faisalabad for a day game and then Rawalpindi for the final two games, both floodlit.

New Zealand 291/5 (CL Cairns 84*, MS Sinclair 55, HJH Marshall 55, Shabbir Ahmed 2/30)

Pakistan 292/7 (Yasir Hameed 52, Inzamam-ul-Haq 49, Abdur Razzaq 47, Moin Khan 43, Yousuf Youhana 42, JDP Oram 2/33)

Pakistan won by 3 wickets

Pakistan lead the 5-ODI series 1-0 with 4 to play

CricketWeb Player of the Match: Abdur Razzaq

Posted by Neil