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It was the perfect outing for New Zealand at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy as they powered their way to a total of 302 runs against Pakistan on the back of a fantastic ton from birthday boy Ross Taylor, who made 131 not out from just 124 balls. The Kiwis then coasted to a 110 run win as the Pakistan top order collapsed to 66/6 on the back of a great opening spell from Kyle Mills and Tim Southee. New Zealand finally wrapped up the innings for 192 to pick up 2 vital points that take them to the top of Group A, and virtually guarantee them a top 3 finish.

Earlier in the day New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first on the brand new surface in Kandy, which was hosting its first ever cricket match. The pitch had a sprinkling of live grass on it and there was expected to be something in it for the seamers willing to bend their backs.

Shoaib Akhtar sauntered in for the first over, looking to build his pace and consistently flirted with the front line. He was spotted just once by Umpire Nigel Llong and Brendon Mccullum took full advantage of the free hit dispatching a good length ball from Akhtar for six. Akhtar came back to knock over McCullum's off-stump on the very next delivery, and New Zealand had slumped early to 8-1. Jamie How was promoted up the batting order in the absence of unwell Jesse Ryder but didn’t look settled at any point. How was unable to rotate the strike leaving Martin Guptill starved of the striker at the other end. How’s failure to rotate the strike was a consequence of Pakistan’s decision to open with, the left arm spinner, Abdur Rehaman who despite the lack of turn kept things tight and didn’t concede easy runs. Guptill meanwhile thrashed some more free hits given his way by Akhtar and kept the scoreboard ticking. How’s dismal innings came to an end with a brialliant full delivery from Umar Gul which caught him in front of wickets for a painstaking 4 from 29 balls.

Ross Taylor who has been struggling with form for months came out to bat next. Taylor got a few birthday gifts straight away as he was given two lives in the one over from Shoaib Akhtar. The veteran Pakistani speedster caught the outside edge of Taylor's bat twice, with keeper Kamran Akmal and Younus Khan at first slip staring at each other, before Akmal dropped an absolute sitter a couple of deliveries later, much to Akhtar's disbelief.

Guptill crawled to his 50 after a quick start and Taylor tried to capitalize on the opportunities he got as the partnership reached 50. The run rate was consistently below 4 and New Zealand looked miles off the pace. Shahid Afridi’s golden arm struck once again, just as the partnership was gaining momentum, to get rid of Guptill for 57. James Franklin didn’t last long as he was adjudged leg before off Mahammad Hafeez. Franklin asked the decision to be reviewed but the ball was always going to hit the stumps. The experienced Scott Styris joined Taylor with more than 20 overs to go and the pair shared in an invaluable stand of 62 at just under 5 an over to take the Kiwis to 175.

New Zealand took the batting powerplay at the beginning of 42^nd over but Pakistan’s powerplay specialist Umar Gul bowled a wonderful over capping it off with the wicket of Scott Styris on the final ball for 28. Nathan McCullum came out a man on a mission, and supported Taylor as both men hit a six each in an Afridi over that followed. McCullum hit another massive six in the next over from Umar Gul, but the bowler replied with a slower ball which was played onto the stumps by McCullum. He departed after a 10-ball 19.

The end of the powerplay didn’t bring an end to the sixes as Ross Taylor hit out of the park in a Shoaib Akhtar over that went for 28, bringing up his century in the process. The carnage continued as Taylor hit 3 more sixes, this time off Abdul Razzaq, with the 49th over conceding 30 runs! Shahid Afridi could just watch the ball flying out of the park as Oram hit 2 sixes off the first 2 balls off Rehman in the last over, but perished trying to repeat his effort on the third ball. The big left-hander contributing 25 from 9 deliveries. Taylor failed to get on strike in the final over, but New Zealand still finished with 302 runs on the board with Taylor unbeaten on 131 off 124 balls. The Kiwis had scored a massive 114 runs in 6 overs and the match had been completely turned on its head in a 40 minute spell.

Pakistan didn’t start well in their big chase losing their first wicket as early as the second over when Mohammad Hafeez was trapped in front of the wickets off the bowling of Tim Southee. Things didn’t get better for Pakistan as the out of form Ahmed Shehzad made his way to the pavilion in the 7^th over when Mills got him out leg before for 10. Mills struck again in the same over uprooting the stumps of Younus Khan for naught and Pakistan were in deep trouble at 23/3.

Pakistan were to lose a third wicket on the same score when Southee picked up his second with Kamran Akmal edging one to Ross Taylor in the lone slip. By that stage, Taylor had taken over the reigns of the team with Daniel Vettori coming out of the game having injured his knee while attempting a catch at mid-on. Though he wasn't eventually needed in this game, one desperately hopes it is not the end of the road for the Kiwi skipper.

Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal tried to take Pakistan out of trouble and at least offer some semblance of a fight to the Kiwis. But their partnership lasted only 7 overs when Taylor showed his tactical nous as he brought Southee back for a second spell from the same end that Mills got the ball to talk, and also gave him an attacking field with Scott Styris placed at gully. Misbah duly obliged, sucked into playing across the line gave giving Styris a tough chance which he did well to hold onto.

Shahid Afridi came into bat at 45/5 and stayed true to his attacking character, taking the attack to the Kiwi bowlers. He raced to 17 off 8 balls before a beauty from Oram bowled him comprehensively.

Abdul Razzaq joined Umar in the middle to get Pakistan as far as they could in order to restore some dignity and protect the net run rate. The batsmen rotated the strike well and took Pakistan past 100 in the 27^th over, but Umar threw his wicket away, trying to loft Nathan McCullum into the stands at deep midwicket. McCullum also got the wicket of Rehman, leg before for 1.

Razzaq decided to take the batting powerplay as he was running out of partners and struck a couple of boundaries as soon as the field was brought up. He found a willing partner in Umar Gul and both batsmen went after the bowling, adding 48 runs in those 5 overs. The partnership reached 50 and there seemed a glimpse of hope as runs were coming thick and quick. Pakistan had reached 187 by the end of 40 overs with both batsmen looking good and the partnership was going at well above 8 runs per over. The dew was helping the batsmen and Umar Gul was playing as if he was a top order batsman.

But Pakistan’s resistance ended with the wicket of Razzaq as he tried to heave the ball over long off for six but couldn’t get the distance. It was a matter of just one wicket then for New Zealand to win the crucial encounter and Shoaib Akhtar got out in the same over giving New Zealand their third win of the tournament. They join Pakistan at the top of Group A with 6 points and have a considerably better net run rate, meaning they should be able to steal third spot courtesy of their massive wins against the Kenyans and Zimbabwe, both by 10 wickets. 

New Zealand have a chance to improve their net run rate even further when they face a charged-up Canadian side, buoyed by their victory against Kenya on Monday. That match will take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai this Sunday. Pakistan meanwhile will be desperate to keep pace and avoid finishing fourth in Group A. They have their shot against Zimbabwe next Monday right here in Kandy, and will be desperate to dominate again, especially after today’s hammering.

Teams:

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (wk), Jamie How, Ross Taylor, James Franklin, Scott Styris, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori(c), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Jacob Oram.

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wk), Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi (c), Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar.

Mini Scorecard

New Zealand 198/10 in 50 overs (3.96 runs per over)
R Taylor 131*(124) U Gul 3-32
M Guptill 57(86) M Hafeez 1-26

Pakistan 192 all out in 41.4 overs (4.6 runs per over)
A Razzaq 62(74) T Southee 3-25
U Akmal 38(58) S Styris 2-17

New Zealand won by 110 runs

Also Read Match Previews: England vs Bangladesh, West Indies vs Ireland

File Photograph Copyright: Gordon