Pakistan favourites in first semi-final
Pakistan start as firm favourites against New Zealand in their semi-final in the ICC Knock-out Trophy, at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club grounds on Wednesday.
Though both teams have reached the semi-finals with big victories, Pakistan
and New Zealand are at the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of
their cricket.
While Pakistan are a bunch of talented but moody players -- capable of
breathtaking displays on their day, New Zealand personify efficiency
in their approach.
Roger Twose, man-of-the-match against Zimbabwe on Monday -- with a
battling 85 that turned the team's fortunes, typifies the New
Zealand approach. It must, however, also be said that they have a
player like Craig McMillan in their ranks, but he is the exception
rather than the rule in Stephen Fleming's team.
For Pakistan, Wasim Akram was at his best against the Sri Lankans. With the pitches in Nairobi aiding the seamers generously, he utilised the conditions superbly and though he went for a few runs when Sanath
Jayasuriya was throwing his bat about, the left-arm seamer was a constant threat and received excellent support from Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdur Razzak.
Saeed Anwar was the other eye catching performer against Sri Lanka
and given the way he and Yousuf Youhana gathered the runs in their
match-ending 105-run stand, the New Zealand attack will have its
hands full. The fact that Inzamam-ul Haq and Ejaz Ahmed never even
got to bat underlines the dominance of the Pakistani performance and
they are more than capable of pulling it off again.
New Zealand, on the other hand, were on the backfoot in their
match against Zimbabwe till Twose and McMillan pulled the side to
safety. Openers Nathan Astle and Craig Spearman are a talented duo
but there is something about this Pakistani attack -- which does not
even seem to miss someone like Waqar Younis -- that promises
difficult times for the Kiwis.
Adding to New Zealand's woes is the injury to Chris Cairns that
saw him hobble through an innings of 13 and then send down just one
over. A match-winner in his own right, any problem to the burly
allrounder means a problem for his side and, unlike Zimbabwe, Pakistan will be a much hotter package to handle.
Overall, it is difficult to see the Kiwis denying Pakistan its
place in the final. On paper, Pakistan are a better side in terms of
the depth of batting while their attack is probably the most varied
one in world cricket at the moment. However, nothing can be taken
for granted in cricket as India showed by eliminating Australia, and
a match is never over till the last ball is bowled.
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Moin Khan (capt), Inzamam-ul Haq, Saeed Anwar, Imran
Nazir, Ejaz Ahmed, Yousuf Youhana, Faisal Iqbal, Waqar Younis, Wasim
Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Abdur Razzaq, Saqlain Mushtaq and Arshad Khan. Coach: Javed Miandad.
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Geoff Allott, Nathan Astle,
Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Craig McMillan, Dion Nash, Chris Nevin,
Adam Parore, Craig Spearman, Scott Styris, Roger Twose and Paul
Wiseman. Coach: David Trist.
Umpires: David Shepherd (Eng) and Dave Orchard (RSA). 3rd umpire: S
Venkatraghavan (Ind). Match referee: Raman Subba Row (Eng).
UNI
Mail Cricket Editor
