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

[OverratedSanity]

Hmmm not really fussed about Taylor getting it tbh. All 3 of Latham, Taylor and Sarfraz played great knocks.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Taylor's innings may not have been the best, but it ends up being the one that had the greatest influence in the game IMO. Pakistan looked dead on for a win at stages yesterday.

 

[Prince EWS]

The fact that Sarfaz's keeping was terrible would've counted against him.

 

[r3alist]

Good match, good declaration.

My point about azhar was reinforced, until he can start taking singles more effectively he will never be a top batsmen, against good bowling or challenging conditions he will just let the pressure build and become a sitting duck, he has nothing in his toolbox to negotiate these scenarios, not talking big shots, just singles are fine.

 

[BeeGee]

Baz MOTM for winning the toss, IMO.

 

[Bahnz]

Impressed by the fight shown by both batsmen and bowlers to deny Pak the win and even have them under pressure for a bit. Taylor - not bad for a lazy ****.

 

[Bahnz]

On the downside, we seriously missed Wagner (or at least a fully in form Wagner) in this test. Williamson's banning from the bowling crease has hurt us in this series. Reckon McHesson would be a lot more comfortable about going with 3 seamers if they knew they had Kano to chuck down 10 or 15 overs a day.

 

[smash84]

The fact that Sarfaz's keeping was terrible would've counted against him.

Fair point.

On a side note. Why can't we find a decent wk

 

[Bahnz]

That sweep by Taylor is far more of a hockey shot than his slog sweep. Bat was almost parallel to the ground.

Taylor was a cracking, if lazy () hockey player in his youth. Would spend most of his time picking his belly button flint at the edge of the circle, but whenever the ball came within his (stationary) arc, he'd just melt it into the top corners time and time again.

 

[Bahnz]

Have you ever seen him reverse it before? Goes back to my point before, even though he's bowling badly, keep him in the side because he needs to learn how to be effective in these conditions

Boult reversed it quite substantially at the Eden Park test in 2013 v England. There's a clip on youtube somewhere of him howling a really nasty inswinging yorker to Broad.

 

[ImpatientLime]

lads can we please get back on topic and discuss new zealand's #1 spinner, ish sodhi some more?

 

[Meridio]

Taylor was a cracking, if lazy () hockey player in his youth. Would spend most of his time picking his belly button flint at the edge of the circle, but whenever the ball came within his (stationary) arc, he'd just melt it into the top corners time and time again.

BJ Watling was apparently the same (though not lazy). Had a phenomenal eye, would crack them out of mid-air into the corner.

 

[Hurricane]

BJ Watling was apparently the same (though not lazy). Had a phenomenal eye, would crack them out of mid-air into the corner.

Glenn Turner also a hockey player. It definitely helps with cricket.

 

[Immenso]

I assume there's a Boult can't reverse 'conversation' going on.

So when he cranks up the pace by 5-10 kMs, comes round the wicket, with the oldish ball - like when in Sri Lanka. He's going that just for fun ..... And a bit of variety.

 

[Immenso]

Well done Blackcaps. Judging by the amount of money I have lost to the TAB you have really surprised me. Didn't think you guys would/could maintain it over 5 days.

 

[Immenso]

Something just doesn't look right about Craig. Those leg side long hops ..... That's not just kiwi Plunket spinner struggling v class batsmen. That's surely form and action is a miss.

Not nearly as bad as Buckos injury comeback yips in Chittagong. But some similarities IMO in that is worse than expected even from a kiwi domestic spinner.

 

[Hurricane]

Something just doesn't look right about Craig. Those leg side long hops ..... That's not just kiwi Plunket spinner struggling v class batsmen. That's surely form and action is a miss.

Not nearly as bad as Buckos injury comeback yips in Chittagong. But some similarities IMO in that is worse than expected even from a kiwi domestic spinner.

Indeed like I said - not Pearce cup standard.

It is not hard to learn to bowl finger spin accurately. It just takes hours and hours of practice.

 

[Hurricane]

Anyway well done black caps I remember 5 years ago when we were terrible that I used to yearn for a respectable draw in overseas conditions.

 

[Hurricane]

OK been out all day so here is my black cap ratings for the game. Again a Pak fan to rate Pakistan plox...

Latham 10 (don't care he didn't come off second dig - this guy is impressive. I was going to say kid, but he is 22 isn't he - so that moniker does not belong)
McCullum 3 (I was going to give him a 7 because his 40s were super handy but I was so cheesed off by his first innings dismissal I can only award him a 3)
Kane 3 (30s aren't good enough in tests and he knows that)
Taylor 10 (like Latham I don't care he failed in the other inning such was the importance of his knock)
Anderson 0
Neesham -1 (I am really going off his bowling the more I see of it)
Watling 6 (that's better keeping Watling keep it up)
Craig 0 (his two wickets in the second dig were not earned imho - I am also not giving him points for batting as that is not his job)
Southee 7 (I think I scored him a 7 last game and I will stick with that. The ball actually moved in the air a bit for him while I was watching.)
Boult 7 see comment in Southee
Sodhi 8 (don't care he didn't take a bagfull - I was quite impressed with his groupings)

 

[smash84]

I think the pak fans here like myself followed the game on cricinfo so not sure if they can rate properly