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Pakistan
beat New Zealand by 8 wickets
SHARJAH: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 8
wickets in the Sixth One-day International here at
Sharjah C.A. Stadium on Monday.
April 15, 2002 - 1610 GMT
New Zealand pegged back after flyer
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: New Zealand blew a flying start against Pakistan, reaching only 213 for nine in the last match of the Sharjah Cup on Monday.
Openers Nathan Astle and Matthew Horne threatened to turn the game on its head with a brisk 75-run stand in 71 balls, but they lost four wickets in 19 balls with the addition of just four runs to surrender the early initiative.
Saqlain, who did the initial damage, returned with a haul of three for 26 while Wasim Akram ran through the lower order, taking three wickets, two in successive balls of his last over, for 43 runs.
But useful contributions down the order from Chris Harris (35) and Scott Styris (43) lent some credibility to the New Zealand innings.
Saqlain Mushtaq, introduced in the 12th over, struck in successive overs to stop New Zealand in their tracks.
The premier off-spinner took a low return catch to remove Horne (27 off 38 balls with one four and one six) and in the next over got rid of Astle (36 off 39 balls with six fours and one six) with Waqar Younis completing a running catch at long on.
The openers had smashed Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis for 26 and 28 runs respectively in their first five overs, but their exit changed the complexion of the game.
Shoaib Akhtar, who replaced Waqar Younis, uprooted the stumps of Matthew Sinclair and Jacob Oram ran himself out for a duck to add to the chaos in New Zealand batting.
With New Zealand four down for 79 by the 15th over, Fleming and Chris Harris joined to steady a faltering innings. But Abdul Razzaq threw a spanner in their work by trapping the skipper lbw.
The TV replays, however, clearly showed the ball was pitched outside the leg stump, but the raised finger from Indian umpire Srininvas Venkataraghavan meant he had to go. Harris and Styris took the score to 141 when
Wasim, returning for his second spell, caught Harris in front of the wicket for 35 (off 67 balls with four boundaries).
The experienced bowler removed Styris -- 43 off 63 balls with one four and one six -- and Daryl Tuffy on the fifth and sixth ball of his last over to keep the New Zealand score in check. The winner of the match will play in the final on Wednesday against Sri Lanka.
April 15, 2002 - 1500 GMT
NZ slump in must-win match as Saqlain strikes
SHARJAH: New Zealand, needing to beat Pakistan to reach the final of the Sharjah Cup, slumped to 101 for five after 25 overs in the final group game on Monday.
Nathan Astle and Matthew Horne had built a fine platform after New Zealand opted to bat, putting on 75 at quicker than a run a ball before four wickets tumbled for four runs in three overs to start the collapse.
Wasim Akram's first over had gone for 10 before Waqar Younis was clubbed for three Astle boundaries in one over as New Zealand set the tone. Astle then struck a six over long on off Wasim with New Zealand reaching 63 without
loss after 10 overs.
But off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, introduced soon after and immediately smashed over the top for six by Horne, soon had his revenge.
He caught and bowled Horne with his fifth ball and had Astle caught at long on for a 39-ball 36 with his 10th delivery.
Shoaib Akhtar then uprooted Matthew Sinclair's middle stump with an express delivery first ball and Jacob Oram was run out, also without scoring, as New Zealand slumped to 79 for four.
Stephen Fleming and all-rounder Chris Harris scratched together 22 off 10 overs in a bid to rebuild the innings before the New Zealand captain fell to a contentious lbw decision to Abdul Razzaq.
The winners will contest the final against table-topping Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
April 15, 2002 - 1120 GMT
New Zeland decide to bat against Pakistan
SHARJAH: New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat against Pakistan in the final group match of the Sharjah Cup on Monday.
New Zealand made two changes in the team that played against Sri Lanka on Sunday, replacing Craig McMillan and James Franklin with Andre Adams and Brooke Walker. Pakistan field an unchanged team.
Teams:
Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar.
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Nathan Astle, Matthew Sinclair, Chris Harris, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Brooke Walker, Andre Adams, Daryl Tuffey, Ian Butler. |