New Zealand defeats Pakistan in the second ODI, regaining 4th spot in the ICC rankings.
A 64-run win would have been seen as a spanking, if the previous match had not been a 138-run slaughter.
The match was most notable for Brendon McCullum’s 131 off 129, which contributed hugely to the win.
Considering what a star Brendon is, it is remarkable that this is his first century against a decent opposition (though it is one that any batsman would be happy to have in his record). Ruffling through the stats however suggests that though he hasn’t hit 100 very often, his contributions are important for New Zealand wins. McCullum’s average is twice as large in wins as it is in losses. Also, when he scores 50 or above, New Zealand is twice as likely to win.
For Pakistan, it almost seemed like they were waiting for Shahid Afridi to do for them what McCullum did for us. By the time Afridi came in (in the 27th over), the top order had muddled along, allowing the required run rate to touch 8/over. When he went first ball (c. Taylor, b. Styris), there was no oomph left.
Wednesday’s heavy loss to Pakistan maintains our exemplary record of zero wins against Pakistan in the Emirates. We had 10 failed efforts to record a win against Pakistan in Sharjah, and now we have added 1 at Abu Dhabi. (Thanks to Leg Break for bringing this to my attention.)
That really is some record. 0-11 over 23 years. There would be few, if any perhaps, comparable records of team match-ups in one country. You would almost want tonight’s game to go the same way, just to maintain that record.
The Cricinfo preview to this series tried to make the case that this series was “simply a compelling series between two eminently watchable sides”, as if there was no other context to it, dismissing the battle for 4th spot on the ICC ODI ranking table and any talk of Pakistan wanting revenge for their defeat to New Zealand in the recent Champions Trophy semi-final.
Well actually it is not merely a compelling series. It is about rankings and revenge for the Champions Trophy. But it is also about that record I mentioned above and whether New Zealand can crack it. And if they can, can they maybe get some payback for some of the previous results in the Emirates, such as the 10 wicket loss in ’86 or the final in ’96 where we failed to chase 160 and now the ’09 138-run drubbing.
However, more important than all the other factors that might go into a series or a match against Pakistan, every single game that we play against Pakistan, of any format anywhere in the world, until memory fades, is about revenge for the semi-final of the ’92 World Cup. One day Pakistan will pay for the heartbreak they caused in knocking us out of that tournament!
So the Black Caps are now in the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan in three one-dayers and two 20-20s (dropping an ODI from the plan from the original announcement). In fact, the first game is on Tuesday (Wednesday our time no doubt). I’ve added the series to my schedule here.
The ODIs will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the western-most of the UAE’s seven emirates, while the 20-20s will be played at the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium, in the next emirate to the east. I recall when cricket in the UAE used to be an annual international fixture. But that was at Sharjah, the third emirate from west to east.
Sharjah used to host a melange of ODI series, with a medley of cups and trophies, under a confusion of sponsors, with e.g. the Pepsi Cup being held one year and the Coca-Cola Cup the next. But there hasn’t been any cricket held in Sharjah for many years. It hadn’t occurred to me that Sharjah had fallen off the cricket map. Apparently, Sharjah has been tainted with the stain of match fixing and the stadium there has been abandoned to the wildlife. I’d somehow managed to miss all that.
But cricket is back in UAE. (And of course, let’s not forget that the ICC has its offices in the tax haven of Dubai.) Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have built magnificent cricket stadiums and are crying out for top class team to come and play against Pakistan.
This happens to be a home series for the Pakistan team, despite being playing hundreds of miles from Pakistan. Perhaps the only significance in this is that Pakistan get to use their groundsmen to prepare the pitches.
Players to watch
Scott Styris: He hasn’t had a turn at bat in an ODI for over a year. Have the selectors been justified in keeping him out? Tim Southee: Another player returning to the team. To date, he alone is all the selectors have identified as the future of New Zealand bowling. If this is going to eventuate, he is going to have to make an impact at some point.
Younis Khan:Out and in as captain in the matter of a few days. He’s done it before and has had periods where he refused to take the captaincy. You’ve got to assume he doesn’t like the job, or he just likes to shake the boat. Mohammad Aamir: Another Pakistan teenage tear-away. Fast, accurate and aggressive. It is usually a curse to have such things said about you, but he could be a new Wasim Akram.
