**Official** Pakistan Tri-Nation Series

[King Kane]

Naseem looks rapid, he must be bowling close to 150 kph, Mitchell was late on a hook shot against him and they are struggling to get a bat on him.

Thankfully most of his balls are too wide or too high, if he could bowl one on the stumps or close to it he would be dangerous.

 

[King Kane]

Pakistan missing a review there, they could have got the crucial wicket of Latham.

 

[Moss]

2nd life for Latham, hope he makes the most of it and plays himself into some form. Pakistan have defended well so far but making things difficult for themselves.

 

[ashley bach]

Yeah Latham was plumb there a terrible non review. And now he gets dropped. Time for a lotto ticket.

 

[King Kane]

Latham dropped and Mitchell nearly run out which would have been a disaster.

 

[trundler]

This is so frustrating. NZ cruising this now. Don't need to do anything fancy

 

[Moss]

Fitting that the final of the otherwise dead-and-buried tri-series format should feature a very late 90s/early 00s style ODI. Throwback all around. Now for some reverse swing please?

 

[King Kane]

Latham dropped again, he is trolling Pakistan.

One time he had a stint on test cricket and really enjoyed his views on the play. He knows what he’s doing

I've heard him commentate test cricket on ABC radio in Australia and he is much better than his T20 commentary, a shame he doesn't do it more often.

T20 commentators in the IPL get paid much better than test commentators on the ABC though.

 

[straw man]

Getting Williamson-Taylor 2019 WC semifinal vibes from this partnership, wonder what their assessment of a par score is. Pitch certainly on the slower side.



Might be worth bringing O’Rourke on to try breaking the partnership.

A good catch from Bracewell to finish it.

4 wickets for Willow Rook, he was the pick of the bowlers so a good reward, 243 to win, that shouldn't be too hard.

243 was exactly the chase from that semi final and final too, wasn't it?

Anyway this could be the biggest win for NZ since the coveted Banglawash Trophy.

 

[Moss]

Latham is probably using up his annual quota of luck on this game alone, but I can't believe Pakistan haven't brought even one slip in for him when Naseem and Shaheen have been bowling. Australia for example would have just amped up the pressure here.

 

[King Kane]

Shaheen bowling too short, he isn't even troubling Latham on that length, he needs to pitch it up.

 

[ashley bach]

Tommy 33*(44) @SillyCowCorner1

 

[King Kane]

243 was exactly the chase from that semi final and final too, wasn't it?

Anyway this could be the biggest win for NZ since the coveted Banglawash Trophy.

The 2019 semi final went over two days, India were favourites to chase down our total, the next day it was seaming and our bowlers ran through them.

 

[slowfinger]

I feel like Pakistan still haven't understood that par score in ODIs is 300, I'd say even 330, scoring 250 in this modern day is like scoring 170/180 in the past. And the pitch is certainly not that bad that can expect to defend that.

It's just unacceptable to score 240 batting first

 

[King Kane]

A good fifty from Mitchell.

I was about to say we look home now but he has just got out to keep the door agar for Pakistan.

 

[ashley bach]

Mitchell 57*(57) but perishes next ball to a brilliant c&b by Abrar @SillyCowCorner1

 

[King Kane]

The Pakistan supporters still aren't that noisy even after that wicket of Mitchell, Latham has sucked the life out of them with his incredible innings.

 

[ashley bach]

224-4 @SillyCowCorner1

 

[straw man]

Sears out with a hamstring tear. Feel for him, but on whatever little I saw the last two games he needs a lot of work before he can be considered a white ball starter. Good reward for Duffy though these are far from his preferred conditions.

Unpopular opinion possibly but Sodhi has actually bowled very well in the SC in the last couple of years whenever there’s been turn on offer. There was a 6 wicket haul in BD before the WC, a game in which Santner-Macewell-Sodhi combined to bowl Pak out for 180+, and in the last ODI in SL which I happened to watch, I got the biggest surprise when he was landing his legbreak consistently and beating the right hander time after time (didn’t have any luck though). For the CT at least, I thought he would add more value than Sears/Duffy/Smith.

Bad luck for Sears. There's been a bit of chat about the fast bowling options, Ferguson's availability, Duffy's omission and now inclusion. But it's mostly a sideshow for this tournament, the bulk of the attack are the four finger-spinners - Santner, Phillips, Macewell, Rachin - who all make the first choice XI in part due to batting and so mean we're going to bowl 30 overs of spin in the CT. We'll probably still select three seamers (Henry, Ferguson, one more) but still bowl 30 overs of spin. The O'Rourke vs Smith vs Sears Duffy battle is likely for only one spot who often won't bowl all ten overs.

Sodhi has bowled some excellent T20 and ODI spells over the years, but the last couple of tournaments it's become very clear he's not going to perform at the business end of a tournament. Partly this is lack of trust from the captain in these scenarios, partly inconsistency. And that in the context of already having four finger spinners in the side, it makes sense he doesn't make it.

 

[ashley bach]

234-5 @SillyCowCorner1