New Zealand vs Pakistan, 17th Match, Group E at Bridgetown, May 08 2010 - Ball by Ball Commentary

no we won't! Rehman gets a dream ball, length ball, angled into the pads, and he lofts it into the leg side. They run for dear life, but it has carried to deep square leg for a simple catch

yorker, yorker, beats him as he makes room, Rehman steals a bye, Hopkins is late in going for the throw, and even though he hits the stumps direct, Rehman is in. Cheekily, after it has been referred to the third umpire, he is looking for the overthrow. Not on, sir. The ball is dead already

and Butt strikes back! charges down the pitch and cuts this short ball over point. He got the room here. Styris gives in a spirited chase from sweeper-cover, and the ball spins away from him upon bouncing. What a game

quick short ball, extra bounce, angling in, 135ks, no room, Butt is beaten, gets a stare from Butt

and Butt comes back! Length ball, and he knows third man is up and he deliberately plays it with an open face. Top shot, what a finish here

bouncer, and he makes room and misses. Not even high enough to be one for the over

pulled down the ground, Butt retains strike for the last over

worked away off the pads, gets Butt back on the strike

mis-hit, top half of the bat as he swings at this short ball, but it bounces in front of long-off

tips and runs, Styris is quick as flash at cover, swoops and flicks at the stumps even while diving, and he misses by inches. Would have got him had he hit

short ball, pulled down the ground to long-on

Butt is playing a special knock here! Slower ball, picks it early, gets on a knee, and almost caresses it over wide long-off. Lovely timing

Butt meanwhile gets to a calm fifty, pushing this to long-on. he now has to see Pakistan through

and Nathan McCullum delivers the big wicket at a crucial juncture again! Shortish delivery, Razzaq pulls, but the extra bounce does him in, the top edge settles down Taylor's throat at the edge of the midwicket boundary

close, close stumping! Razzaq slogs at a ball outside off, is beaten, his toe is on the line, but he has just slid a part of his foot back in time

pushed down to long-off for one

cut to extra cover and they sneak a sharp single

punched to sweeper-cover for one

Razzaq is making a mockery of trends here! All over he has looked like an incompetent batsman, but makes supreme connection with this short ball, and launches it over long-on, and out of the Kensington Oval

quicker short ball, Razzaq backs away again, and is beaten on the attempted cut