**Official** Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2014

[Blocky]

Sodhi getting away with long hops against Azhar due to getting him three times already.

 

[Hurricane]

We need to get this opener out shortly. We need the engine room in as quickly as possible.

 

[Blocky]

This is where Sodhi needs to be planning his deliveries, the ball I think he can get Masud with is actually the wrong'un.

 

[CharlesLara]

Nethula bowling his OD flatter quicker balls could have been a weapon. He'd still get the big wrist spin turn.

Agree with this, thats the ideal pace for slow tracks.

 

[Hurricane]

Yeah Craig isn't bowling well at all, pitch is doing all the work for him.

Sometimes CW doesn't let me like a post. So responding to you here daemon. Yes I agree.

That said with a pitch like this you do want the pitch to do the work for you - but every ball and not 3 balls out of the over. It is the pressure that will get you.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Sodhi getting away with long hops against Azhar due to getting him three times already.

He's earned that though. It's one of the intangibles of actually bowling well - he's got something of a mental edge so even if he does bowl some filth he'll get away with it because Ali is a bit hesitant.

 

[Blocky]

Interesting session, chase still on in my view - 220 off 58.

 

[hendrix]

This is where Sodhi needs to be planning his deliveries, the ball I think he can get Masud with is actually the wrong'un.

I think just about everyone with a cricket brain knows that.

 

[Hurricane]

229 needed of 58 overs. Just a tick under 4 needed. Sodhi is quite hard to score from so the run rate may climb.

 

[Flem274*]

hopefully the break gives us a hand. they'll have to get back in the groove again.

really needed 2 or 3 before lunch. there is always resistance down the order after a collapse.

 

[Blocky]

He's earned that though. It's one of the intangibles of actually bowling well - he's got something of a mental edge so even if he does bowl some filth he'll get away with it because Ali is a bit hesitant.

I agree, against Azhar he has - he's bowled some stuff that'll have him double guessing, but when he's bowling at Misbah or Younis, the same thing won't happen. I think these two only have to get Pakistan through to 50-60ish and you'll start to see some intent. It's well poised. I'd kill to have Vettori in these conditions.

 

[Blocky]

I think just about everyone with a cricket brain knows that.

Yet Sodhi hasn't bowled it, once. Go Figure.

 

[Hurricane]

He's earned that though. It's one of the intangibles of actually bowling well - he's got something of a mental edge so even if he does bowl some filth he'll get away with it because Ali is a bit hesitant.

I have a question for you, good to see you in the thread btw, you have said that Latham was always the big wicket of school boy cricket. Was he a prodigy in the sense Taylor was...not bringing Kane into it as I don't think anyone has ever done as well as him in youth cricket.

Where I am going with this is - is I am wondering if we have three prodigies in the team now.

 

[Howe_zat]

If this were a 2-test series, Pakistan would have every motive to bat out the draw. Instead I think they'll go for a win to give themselves two chances to win the series.

Two-test series are ****e.

 

[Hurricane]

hopefully the break gives us a hand. they'll have to get back in the groove again.

really needed 2 or 3 before lunch. there is always resistance down the order after a collapse.

This pitch may break up after lunch with a bit of luck. That is our best hope.

 

[vandem]

Whew!

Gutsy declaration, IMHO 20-30 runs and 8-10 overs too early, given the usual economy rates of the NZ spinners, but we know that BMac is a a gambler.

Critical afternoon spell could be from Southee. After lunch, and then again after a wicket falls I'd like to see him partner Sodhi, not allow Misbah / Younis to start against both spinners.

Agree with comments about Craig, just needs to keep firing it in, avoid long hops.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Bit of a miracle that Masood is still in there. Would've been huge to have Younis in before lunch.

 

[hendrix]

Yet Sodhi hasn't bowled it, once. Go Figure.

he actually has to set him up first.

Anyway, I don't think Sodhi has bowled as well in this test as he did in the first. His economy looks great in this test because of the Sarfraz partnership where we had men on the boundary and Sarfraz was turning down singles when he hit long hops to the fielders in the deep.

He bowled much better in the first test. Barely dropped short.

 

[BackFootPunch]

I agree, against Azhar he has - he's bowled some stuff that'll have him double guessing, but when he's bowling at Misbah or Younis, the same thing won't happen. I think these two only have to get Pakistan through to 50-60ish and you'll start to see some intent. It's well poised. I'd kill to have Vettori in these conditions.

Yeah look it's really just baby steps for Sodhi but I think it's an important part of his development. Maybe this isn't the best stage for him to be doing it, seeing as we have a Test to try and win, but it's a big deal for a spinner to bowl when they have a mental edge over an opponent and conditions in their favour. I don't imagine he would have done lots of it before.

Someone like Warne was a master of it. He'd earned that mental edge over many years and even when he wasn't bowling amazingly he could make it seem like he was through sheer force of personality. Whereas Sodhi is currently on top of one batsman, Warne would walk into the ground with the same edge over the whole team.

On a slightly related note, it's ****ing hard to bowl when everything should be going your way. Just like some seamers are guilty of just putting it there when they see a green top, a lot of spinners battle when it's going square. I reckon that's what's ailing Craig at the moment. Thinks he should be getting a wicket every ball (and well could be with the way it's turning) instead of just bowling his areas and building it up.

 

[Hurricane]

Whew!

Gutsy declaration, IMHO 20-30 runs and 8-10 overs too early, given the usual economy rates of the NZ spinners, but we know that BMac is a a gambler.

Critical afternoon spell could be from Southee. After lunch, and then again after a wicket falls I'd like to see him partner Sodhi, not allow Misbah / Younis to start against both spinners.

Agree with comments about Craig, just needs to keep firing it in, avoid long hops.

I played against Tom Puna (RIP) when I was 17 - he was a former ND spinner and played I think 1 test.

Every ball he bowled was money and you just blocked and blocked and blocked. Finally you started to doubt your defensive game and he got inside your head - and you would play a false shot. We need bowlers like him.