Underestimate them at your peril
It's not the first time and it won't be the last. New Zealand perennially start tournaments as dark horses
The Verdict by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Oct-2006
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It's not the first time and it won't be the last. New Zealand perennially start tournaments as dark horses, who sneak a close game here and stumble by a big margin there and dangerously
hover around the periphery. Sometimes they leave with a whimper - as if it
was expected all along - but occasionally they summon the nasty sting, one
that can upset even the mighty. This routine has become so commonplace
that New Zealand pulling off surprises shouldn't come as a surprise
anymore.
How they have done it is a mystery but somehow they've clung on to the tag
of the underdog and, often superbly, used it to their advantage. Today
they had quite a few things going against them: asked to bat first on a
lively track, running into a disciplined seam attack, facing the prospect
of defending a low target in the soggy dew, and having to take into
account a batting-line-up that's used to chasing, and chasing big. They
did well to take their time initially; and did superbly to cash in at the
slog.
Unfortunately for Pakistan they ran into Stephen Fleming on the threshold of
history; unfortunately they didn't have the services of Mohammad Asif -
countering him on this juicy surface might have been several handfuls; and
unfortunately - and this was entirely their undoing - they undid all the
good work in the final overs. Younis Khan seems an inspirational captain
but not giving Mohammad Hafeez a bowl, when he was arguably their best
spinner in the previous game, was baffling.
Then there was the last ten overs. It's ironically that a bunch training
under Waqar Younis - arguably the greatest exponent of the toe-crusher -
didn't manage a single yorker in the last ten overs. It's one thing to
bowl brilliantly in the first 15 overs, but to try to stick to the same
formula in the end isn't exactly smart. New Zealand's batsmen simply
had to wait, read the predictable length and thump. They managed 99 in
the last ten. Game on.
"We can't harp on that fact," said Bob Woolmer, their coach, when asked
about the bowling at the death. "Rana, Rao have played a lot of one-day
cricket now; Umar Gul is coming back from injury and he has bowled really
well. Razzaq is up to nearly 200 one-day internationals. We have the
bowlers who can bowl, we just didn't bowl as well as we did the other
night against Sri Lanka. We haven't performed as well as we should have
done. New Zealand have outperformed us, they have outplayed us."
New Zealand bowled cannily, no doubt about it. They used the dew to their
advantage - employing the bouncer more often - and didn't panic even when
Pakistan were cruising. But they got help, large doses of it in fact.
Imran Farhat must decide whether he's an opener or a crocodile hunter.
He's got the shots but he's also got a fatalistic instinct that few
batsmen can match. Flash for four is followed by flash to the slips. Drop
him and he will flash again.
Then in walks Younis Khan at No.3, a position which he's occupied in 36
games and averages a modest 27.5. What that means is that Shoaib Malik,
arguably Pakistan's best one-day batsman over the last two years, bats
lower. Today he came at No.6, a position he averages 29.5. Put him at No.3
and it shoots up to 40.5. Put him at four and it's a stunning 56.11.
Pakistan will need to sort out their batting order - Shahid Afridi
floating doesn't seem to be the solution.
Woolmer admitted that the Afridi conundrum was causing a few headaches.
"Afridi is a very fine player, unfortunately he hasn't clicked which has
created a hole. Shahid Afridi has stated that he wants a regular batting
place in the side. So we told him No.5 is your place, so go out and
perform. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, he has got out. He doesn't
want to get out, he is trying his best."
One moment, in the 49th over of the New Zealand innings, was indicative of
the larger issue. Scott Styris sweeps Umar Gul to deep midwicket, Rana
Naved-Ul-Hasan sees the ball bounce in front of him, spin away and cross
the fence. Next ball. Scott Styris launches one to long-off, Rao runs
around speedily, throws his arms in the air and latches on to a
magnificent catch. Pakistan have forever been associated with being
pathetic one moment and brilliant the next. But they need less of the
former if they harbour hopes of staying in this tournament.
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is staff writer of Cricinfo