Dashing New Zealand bounced back strongly to demolished Pakistan by 64 runs in the second one-day international at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Kiwis first rode Brendon McCullum's hundred to post formidable total of 303 then exhibited an outstanding fielding to outclass Pakistan batting line-up to square up the series by 1-1 with one match remaining.
Catches win matches, the formula yet again proved. Two fantastic catches by Ross Taylor off two successive balls to overwhelm two key men, which revolved the scenario of the game. For New Zealand it was a do die contest to keep the series alive and they defied so well to do so.
Pakistan however off to a solid purse as both openers established 77-runs before Vettori trapped Khalid Latif lbw for 45. Things were moving right according to the plan but suddenly with the departure of Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi appeared to replace his captain in the middle. Khan was the first victim of the Scott Styris, caught brilliantly by Taylor at the short mid-wicket followed by Afridi – who took no time to join Khan back in the hut, caught sharply by Taylor.
Kamran Akmal was promoted up in the order, pushing down experienced Shoaib Malik and veteran Mohammad Yousaf. A shuffling brought about to stabilized the wracked ship but proved destructive as no batsman stood tall to hold out despite Shoaib Malik (26) and Abdul Razzaq (35 not out) – who although resisted hard but the required run rate was mounting higher and higher and they were all out in the 48th over to hand New Zealand their much needed victory to live up the three-match series.
New Zealand after winning the toss off to a caution start as man in form Aaron Redmond miss timed off Mohammad Aamir straight to Younis Khan to be caught at mid-off in the circle for 6 off 8 balls. McCullum on the other end was struggling with his form anchored in Martin Guptill for a steady partnership of 126 for the second wicket's stand.
Both despite the early wobble, when get settled never looked back as Guptill displayed his elegance hitting 62 off 70 balls whereas McCullum's half-century came in 53 balls which bring New Zealand's 100 in just 17 overs.
Abdul Razzaq, who was dispatched after been punished hard in his opening three overs that conceded 25 runs, brought back to dislodged McCullum-Guptill company. Guptill sliced Razzaq over cover in deep where Aamer pouched a well judge catch to give Pakistan a vital breakthrough.
Ross Taylor was the next man back in hut with two-ball duck followed by Scott Styris – who was harried to find his feet, botched to make his ground fall to an sharp work by Younis Khan, who from mid-off broke his stumps to show the way back to the pavilion.
Man in sound mood thereafter featured two innings-building partnership (54,56) with Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram to give New Zealand a hope for a comparative total on the board. But the the departure of McCullum tail-enders only manged to add 29 which however surpass 300 mark.
© Cricdb
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