New Zealand storm to series win against Pakistan

Heraldsun

NEW Zealand has defeated Pakistan by 39 runs in Hamilton to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match Twenty20 cricket series.

After beating Pakistan by five wickets in the opening match on the strength of outstanding performances by opening bat Martin Guptill and bowler Tim Southee, the Black Caps were a tight unit as they scored 7-185 after losing the toss.

Pakistan made one change, bringing in Asad Shafiq for Fawad Alam.

New Zealand, rotating their players, fielded Ian Butler and gave Wellington's Luke Woodcock his first international cap in place of Adam Milne and Dean Brownlie who debuted in Auckland.

The match got off to a comical start when the ball slipped out of Pakistan opening bowler Abdul Razzaq's hand and dropped a few metres up the pitch before it was called a dead ball.

But Razzaq had the last laugh. His first official delivery enticed Jesse Ryder into a swipe only to have the leg-side ball tip off his glove into wicketkeeper Umar Akmal's hands, the opener departing without troubling the scorers.

But Guptill, 44 and James Franklin, 40, put on 90 runs for the second wicket by the 12th over before Guptill departed to establish a solid base for the New Zealand innings.

Ross Taylor, not out 30 from 21 balls was the anchor of the innings around which Scott Styris, 34 off 14 balls and Peter McGlashan, 26 off 10 balls, provided the fireworks at the end of the innings.

McGlashan, using some unorthodox strokes blasted 24 runs of one Umar Gul over, striking three fours and collecting two sixes with reverse sweeps.

Saeed Ajmal was the best of the Pakistan bowlers taking three for 35 off four overs with strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar, one for 42 and Gul, none for 47 feeling the heat from the New Zealand batsman.

Pakistan made a promising start with opener Mohammad Hafeez hitting 46 from 30 balls.

But he was run out by Akmal who called for a suicidal second run and from three for 69, Pakistan were unable to build partnerships in the face of accurate bowling and tight fielding by New Zealand.

Chief destroyer was spinner Nathan McCullum who took four wickets for 16 runs. He also took two catches in the deep off consecutive balls from Southee.

Kyle Mills and Butler got a wicket each while left arm orthodox spinner Woodcock showed little jitters on debut to record an economical none for 20 off his four overs.

New Zealand registers easy win over Pakistan

SAMAA


AUCKLAND: Pace bowler Tim Southee ripped through Pakistan's batting order before opener Martin Guptill smashed a quick-fire half century to help New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international on Sunday.

Southee took five wickets, including just the third hat-trick in international Twenty20 matches, while Guptill scored 54 in 29 balls as a new-look New Zealand side produced a morale-boosting win.

Guptill's 54 included four sixes, one of which almost went out of the ground, before he was run out when attempting a quick single but was sent back by stand in captain Ross Taylor, who finished on 39 not out and saw the home side to victory.

Southee had ripped through Pakistan's order by taking five wickets in nine balls, including a hat-trick, that reduced Pakistan from 58 for one to 68 for six within the space of 10 minutes.

Pakistan had begun strongly, rolling along to 58 for one, with the only dismissal that of captain Shoaib Afridi (20), before Southee began his purple patch, dismissing Ahmed Shehzad for 14 on the final ball of his first over.

He then dismissed Younis Khan (two), Hafeez (24) and Umar Akmal (0) on successive deliveries in his second over before he completed his demolition with Abdul Razzaq becoming his fifth victim on the second ball of his third over when he feathered a catch through to wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan for one.

Southee finished with figures of five for 18 from his four overs, though Pakistan's bowlers provided some late resistance with Umar Gul (30) and Wahab Riaz (30 not out) helping their side through to 143 for nine off their 20 overs.