Another global tournament is upon us and, once again, New Zealand provided a reminder they are not to be underestimated.
It has been 29 long years since Pakistan last hosted an ICC event but while it was a moment to savour and enjoy, it was the Black Caps left celebrating at the end – victory ensured with a minimum of fuss.
They lost the toss, were put in and quickly lost three of their top four – including talisman Kane Williamson, caught behind after a beauty from Naseem Shah, for one – but there was no sense of panic.
Young just continued to bat as he had from the start, calmly rotating the strike and punishing the bad balls in a knock that screamed sensible cricket.
There was more attacking intent from Latham late in the innings but through the middle overs, he was happy to follow Young’s lead.
This was not the T20 approach stretched over 50 overs as seems to have become the strategy employed by others but an almost old-fashioned ODI innings based around steady scoring through the middle overs, wickets in hand and a barnstorming final 10 overs.
Young had reached his fourth ODI hundred and departed before the late onslaught but the Black Caps could hardly have planned for a better situation than Phillips striding to the crease with 12.4 overs remaining.
While Latham moved through the gears to reach his eighth ODI ton, Phillips plundered three fours and four sixes in a typically destructive knock that capped a wonderfully paced New Zealand innings.
By contrast, Pakistan failed to find the required balance in the chase as they started at a glacial pace and, ultimately, left themselves too much to do.
Given the ease in which their lower order managed to clear the ropes as the innings progressed, Rizwan’s side will be ruing that slow start with their semi-final hopes already hanging by a thread.
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/cg709e52m49o
Author :
Publish date : 2025-02-19 17:23:16
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.