NEWS ALERT

NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Thursday, February 03, 2011

Kiwis go for bowling first in crucial ODI


Updated at: 0600 PST,  Thursday, February 03, 2011
HAMILTON: New Zealand captain Ross Taylor won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan in the crucial fifth one-day international at Seddon Park on Thursday.

A win for Pakistan would give them the six-match series with a game to spare while New Zealand need to win to keep the series alive.

Taylor was handed the New Zealand captaincy when regular skipper Daniel Vettori was ruled out on the morning of the match because of a hamstring strain suffered in the fourth game in Napier on Tuesday.

Opening batsman Jesse Ryder, who missed the Napier match because of an injured finger returns to the side.

New Zealand are resting Tim Southee, who has played in every match so far, as well as Kane Williamson, and have brought back regular new ball bowler Kyle Mills.

In the the Pakistan side Shoaib Akhtar replaces Sohail Tanvir in their bowling line up.