More of the same for NZ
Saturday, December 6 2003
Another comprehensive bowling performance by Pakistan left New Zealand's beleaguered bowling attack with little to defend in the fourth one-day international at Rawalpindi today - and defend it they didn't.
Chris Cairns won the toss and elected to bat in the first of two 'dead' games, Pakistan already having secured the series, but any thoughts of early ascendancy were despatched within fiery Shoaib Akhtar's first over.
Just four balls had gone by without score when Shoaib nipped one back off the seam to leave the hapless Craig Cumming heading back to the pavilion. Mathew Sinclair managed a solitary boundary off the bowling of Umar Gul before the first bowling change brought instant results, Abdul Razzaq taking just two deliveries to trap Sinclair in front for just 7 with his inswinger, the total on 23.
Suicidal running saw Richard Jones (17) trying to take on Shoaib Akhtar's arm at deep backward square leg but instead of a second run, all the Wellington opener, fresh to the ranks of the international side, got for his trouble was a mouthful of dirt and a lonely walk back to the dressing room.
Hamish Marshall was the next to depart, yorked for a painstaking 11 by Azhar Mahmood to leave New Zealand still on the wrong side of 50 after fully twenty overs.
It would have taken an innings of real character from someone to retrieve the situation for the Kiwis, and with the undoubted talents of skipper Chris Cairns and Chris Harris at the wicket together, there is always the possibility of the miraculous.
The pair took the total on to 82 in the next eight overs through sensible batting but just as it seemed that 'proper' cricket might yet redeem the situation, Harris (25) lost his head - and his wicket. Harris danced down the track to a ball from Shoaib Malik, only to loft the ball to the waiting hands of Saleem Elahi on the fence at long-off
Cairns continued apace but New Zealand's last remaining hope - Brendon McCullum -became the second victim of quite senseless running, failing to beat a throw from Shoaib Malik at third man.
When Cairns went, top-scoring with 48 before being bowled by Shoaib Malik, it was left to the pacier Shoaib - Akhtar - to blow away the tail for a disappointing 183.
When a side is struggling with the bat, all sorts of demons haunt the wicket. When one struggles with the ball, the pitch is thoroughly exorcised - as was the case today at Rawalpindi.
New Zealand opened with Daryl Tuffey and Michael Mason bowling to Yasir Hameed and Imran Farhat, and it was if the teams had decided to play a completely different game. Certainly, it bore little resemblance to what had gone beforehand as the Pakistani openers raced past 50 inside the first seven overs.
Strokes pierced the infield with regularity - especially from Farhat who plundered the all-too-frequent errant deliveries from Mason for five sumptuous boundaries through the cover region.
The introduction of Paul Hitchcock into the attack never threatened to bear fruit as Hameed and Farhat continued to trade boundaries to the extent that the hundred partnership was reached in the 20th over with both openers closing in on fifties.
It was all too easy.
Australian-born Tamahau Karangatukituki Canning finally struck, picking up his first wicket in a one-day international when Yasir Hameed tamely chipped a ball to Daryl Tuffey at mid-on for a fine 61 out of 134, then the same combination did for Azhar Mahmood (4), this time care of a stunning catch at cover.
With Farhat possibly eyeing three figures, a chancy second run to Canning at fine leg might well have paid off save for the direct hit from long distance. Imran Farhat's 82 included 14 boundaries and deservedly won him the Man of the Match award.
Six overs later, it was all over. Shoaib Malik peppered the boundary with a series of delightful cover drives to leave New Zealand staring down all five barrels of a series whitewash.
Match summary
Pakistan 184-3 (Imran Farhat 82, Yasir Hameed 61, Canning 2-30)
beat
New Zealand 183 (Cairns 48, Shoaib Akhtar 3-23, Shoaib Malik 2-46)
by 7 wickets
Posted by Eddie
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