New Zealand thrash Pakistan by 9 wkts

 Updated at: 1142 PST,  Saturday, January 22, 2011
WELLINGTON: New Zealand ended an 11-match losing streak in emphatic fashion on Saturday, crushing Pakistan by nine wickets in their first one-day international at Westpac Stadium.

New Zealand's opening combination of Jesse Ryder (55) and Martin Guptill (40 not out) made a mockery of the troubles Pakistan's batsmen had with the drop-in pitch as New Zealand raced to 125 for one in 17.2 overs.

Ryder and Guptill brought up the first 50 runs inside six overs and were then forced to take the scheduled tea break after New Zealand had earlier bowled the visitors out for 124 in 37.3 overs.

Tim Southee took a career-best 5-33, while wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum took five catches in an innings for the fourth time.

New Zealand coach John Wright had said before the match he wanted to trial some new batting combinations in the six-match series against Pakistan as they prepare for the World Cup, and that he would break up the normal opening combination of Ryder and McCullum and look at moving either down to the middle order.

McCullum, who has relinquished the gloves in tests, was scheduled to come in at number six but he was not needed as Ryder and Guptill savaged the Pakistani bowlers.

Ryder scored 32 of New Zealand's first 50 runs with three fours and two sixes prior to the break and continued afterwards bringing up his fourth one-day half century off 31 balls before he was caught on the boundary by Asad Shafiq off Sohail Tanvir.

Ross Taylor was 23 not out with Guptill at the end of the game.

Pakistan, who had won the toss and opted to bat, never looked comfortable with New Zealand's pace bowlers getting good bounce, shape and movement away, causing them to prod at deliveries.

Test captain Misbah-ul-haq was again the mainstay of Pakistan's batting effort with 50, though the rest of the side failed to build any meaningful partnerships, with both Hamish
Bennett and Jacob Oram flirting with hat-tricks.

Bennett finished with three for 26 and Oram two for 33.

The next match is on Wednesday in Queenstown.

Read More

Pakistan bundled out for 124 against Kiwis

 Updated at: 0920 PST,  Saturday, January 22, 2011
WELLINGTON: Brendon McCullum made animpressive return to wicket-keeping duties with five catches while Tim Southee took five wickets as New Zealand bowled Pakistan out for 124 in their first one-day international at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

It is the fourth time McCullum, who has relinquished the gloves in Tests matches in an effort to prolong his international career, has taken five catches in a one-day innings.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, the visitors never looked comfortable on the drop-in pitch, with New Zealand's pace bowlers getting good bounce, shape and movement away from the batsmen, causing them to prod at deliveries.

Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder also took catches behind the wicket as Pakistan failed to build any meaningful partnerships, with both Hamish Bennett and Jacob Oram flirting with hat-tricks.

Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-haq was again the mainstay of his side's batting effort top scoring with 50 as he took to the New Zealand attack when last man Shahid Afridi joined him at the crease while Younus Khan was next best with 24.

Southee finished with career-best five for 33 off 9.3 overs, while Bennett took three for 26.

New Zealand have lost their previous 11 one-day internationals.

Read More

Pakistan to bat first against New Zealand

Updated at: 0600 PST,  Saturday, January 22, 2011
WELLINGTON: Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first in their one day international against New Zealand here Saturday as the two sides begin fine-tuning for the World Cup.

The tourists go into the six-match series holding the upper hand, coming off a 1-0 series victory over New Zealand in the two Tests and with a more impressive one-day record in recent times.

They were pipped 2-3 in their October-November series against South Africa while New Zealand are on an 11-match losing streak.

In an effort to turn their fortunes around, New Zealand have decided to break up their big hitting opening partnership of Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum with McCullum dropping down to number six.

New coach John Wright wants matchwinners in the middle order, rather than having to rely on on the openers, and all-rounder Jacob Oram has been brought back to follow McCullum at number seven.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said there would be a degree of experimentation as they search for a balanced lineup that gives them power at the top and at the end of an innings.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said his side has taken heart from the Test win and now want to dominate New Zealand in the ODIs.

"In the buildup to the World Cup, it would be good for our morale to win every game, every victory is very important now and that's what we want to do in this series."

Pakistan have brought in Abdul Razzaq who belted an unbeaten 109 in 72 balls in their second one-dayer against South Africa.

TEAMS

NEW ZEALAND - Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori (captain), Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett.

PAKISTAN: Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi (captain), Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar

UMPIRES:Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Amiesh Saheba (IND)

TV UMPIRE: Barry Frost (NZL)

MATCH REFEREE: Alan Hurst (AUS)

Read More

Pakistan seal series win with draw

Updated at: 1055 PST,  Wednesday, January 19, 2011 WELLINGTON: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-haq led from the front, scoring his second half century of the match, to ensure his side batted out the final day to draw the second Test against New Zealand on Wednesday and claim their first series victory since 2006.

Misbah finished the day on 70 not out, following on from his 99 in the first  innings, as Pakistan reached 226 for five at the close of play, 48 runs short of their victory target of 274.

Adnan Akmal was two not out as the visitors claimed their first series win since they beat the West Indies 2-0 at home five years ago.

Misbah had shared in an 118-run stand with Younis Khan (81) -- their second century-stand of the match -- after New Zealand had threatened to spoil the visitors' day when they reduced them to 42-3 in the first session.

Chris Martin was particularly aggressive in the first session, taking 2-24 off nine overs and had the Pakistani batsmen frantically trying to see him off.

New zealand captain Daniel Vettori also provided some concerning moments for the visitors, introducing himself in the eighth over and getting bounce from the harder ball and some turn out of the footmarks.

Misbah and Younis, however, slowly but assuredly ground down the attack and for long periods during the session between lunch and tea looked to have given up any pretence of chasing down the target before they slowly began to increase the scoring rate.

New Zealand were given the slightest hope of a final session victory when Younis was caught by Reece Young off Tim Southee in the final over before tea.

Misbah, who faced 172 balls and hit his fifth boundary to bring up his 50 after 255 minutes at the crease, and Asad Shafiq, however, continued to combine stoic defence and flirting with the possibility of launching a frantic final assault.

In the final hour, Vettori trapped Shafiq in front for 24 to leave Pakistan 215-5 and while the New Zealand bowlers attempted to rattle them with several vociferous appeals, Akmal and Misbah negotiated their way through until the close.

Completed scoreboard in the second Test between New Zealand and Pakistan at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday: New Zealand 1st innings

• M. Guptill c Adnan Akmal b Umar Gul 29
• B. McCullum lbw Umar Gul 2
• K. Williamson c Adnan Akmal b Umar Gul 21
• R. Taylor c Adnan Akmal b Wahab Riaz 78
• J. Ryder c Adnan Akmal b Tanvir Ahmed 0
• J. Franklin c Adnan Akmal b Abdur Rehman 33
• R. Young c Adnan Akmal b Tanvir Ahmed 57
• D. Vettori c Misbah-ul-Haq b Abdur Rehman 110
• T. Southee c Misbah-ul-Haq b Umar Gul 1
• B. Arnel lbw Umar Gul 1
• C. Martin not out 4

Extras (b 7, lb 1, w 10, nb 2) 20
Total (all out; 127.1 overs) 356
Fall of wickets: 1-3 (McCullum), 2-46 (Williamson), 3-98 (Guptill), 4-98 (Ryder), 5-166 (Franklin), 6-180 (Taylor), 7-318 (Young), 8-322 (Southee), 9-338 (Arnel), 10-356 (Vettori)

Bowling: Umar Gul 32-3-87-4, Tanvir Ahmed 25-5-93-3 (1nb, 2w), Younis Khan 1-0-9-0, Wahab Riaz 16-3-46-1 (3w), Abdur Rehman 45.1-11-96-2 (1nb), Mohammad Hafeez 8-0-17-0. Pakistan 1st innings

• Taufeeq Umar c Guptill b Vettori 70
• Mohammad Hafeez c Young b Southee 1
• Azhar Ali c Taylor b Martin 67
• Younis Khan c Ryder b Vettori 73
• Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Martin 99
• Asad Shafiq c Taylor b Vettori 0
• Adnan Akmal c Martin b Vettori 22
• Abdur Rehman c McCullum b Martin 5
• Umar Gul c McCullum b Martin 19
• Tanvir Ahmed c Taylor b Southee 7
• Wahab Riaz not out 7

Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 2, nb 1) 6
Total (all out; 133 overs) 376
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Mohammad Hafeez), 2-134 (Taufeeq Umar), 3-144 (Azhar Ali), 4-286 (Younis Khan), 5-294 (Asad Shafiq), 6-324 (Adnan Akmal), 7-333 (Abdur Rehman), 8-360 (Misbah-ul-Haq), 9-363 (Umar Gul), 10-376 (Tanvir Ahmed)

Bowling: Martin 32-7-91-4, Southee 28-7-102-2, Arnel 16-4-50-0, Franklin 9-1-30-0, Vettori 47-11-100-4, Guptill 1-1-0-0 New Zealand 2nd innings

• M. Guptill lbw Abdur Rehman 73
• B. McCullum c Tanvir Ahmed b Abdur Rehman 64
• K. Williamson c Adnan Akmal b Tanvir Ahmed 15
• R. Taylor lbw Umar Gul 52
• J. Ryder b Mohammed Hafeez 17
• J. Franklin c Younis Khan b Mohammed Hafeez 6
• R. Young c Azhar Ali b Abdur Rehman 20
• D. Vettori b Umar Gul 1
• T. Southee not out 22
• B. Arnel lbw Umar Gul 0
• C. Martin c Adnan Akmal b Umar Gul 1

Extras (b 2, lb 6, nb 13, w 1) 22
Total (all out; 90.5 overs) 293
Fall of wickets: 1-120 (McCullum), 2-166 (K. Williamson), 3-166 (M. Guptill), 4-192 (J. Ryder), 5-208 (J. Franklin) 6-268 (R. Young), 7-268 (R. Taylor) 8-275 (D. Vettori), 9-275 (B. Arnel) 10-293 (C. Martin)

Bowling: Umar Gul 20.5-4-61-4, Tanvir Ahmed 10-0-36-1, Abdur Rehman 39-6-119-3, Wahab Riaz 8-1-38-0 Mohammed Hafeez 13-3-31-2 Pakistan 2nd innings

• Mohammad Hafeez c Taylor b Martin 32
• Taufeeq Umar lbw Southee 0
• Azhar Ali lbw Martin 10
• Younis Khan c Young b Southee 81
• Misbah-ul-Haq not out 70
• Asad Shafiq lbw Vettori 24
• Adnan Akmal not out 2

Extras (lb 6, nb 1) 7
Total (5 wickets; 92 overs) 226
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Taufeeq Umar), 2-35 (Azhar Ali), 3-42 (Mohammad Hafeez), 4-160 (Younis Khan), 5-215 (Asad Shafiq)
Bowling: Martin 24-6-63-2, Southee 15-2-49-2, Vettori 34-13-57-1, Arnel 9-5-17-0, Franklin 5-1-6-0, Guptill 3-0-16-0, Ryder 2-0-12-0


Toss: New Zealand
Result: Test drawn
Man of the match: Masbah-ul-Haq
Series: Pakistan 1-0
Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS), Rod Tucker (AUS)
Third umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

Read More