Pak, NZ seek momentum in key clash

Agencies

Pallekele, 08 March 2011: It is a bit of a cliche. In this particular case, it is a tired one. Misbah-ul-Haq and Daniel Vettori were talking about players and responsibilities, how there is the need to take on such a role in the World Cup.

 

Pakistan with three victories are in a position where there CWC11 A Group programme is well on course for a quarterfinal. Unless that is, they do lose to New Zealand in a game the Kiwis need to win to keep their foot in the door of making top four in the group.

 

Mishbah giving a cheery, if thoughtful smile, talked confidently how Pakistan had rallied behind their captain, Shahid Afridi, which is the role that many though the stylish middle-order should have. If you recall, there was much debate during the New Zealand tour about how Mishbah should be the captain as Afridi was considered to be too erratic in carrying out gameplans.

 

 

He does though have the support of the coach Waqar Younis as well and management and his 14 wickets in three CWC11 games is indication enough of his input into Pakistan’s cause this tournament. Or as Misbah put it diplomatically, Afridi: "Is doing a great job and leading by example. I try and give my input when they need it. What is important here is that everyone in the side is important to the team’s cause.

 

"It is about accepting responsibility and in this case we all realise the importance of the need to win games and this means the supporting each other," he added. "The way Afridi bowls in such conditions as we have had here is a plus point. He has a lot of variations, googly, flipper, faster ball and one that drifts. You don’t know what’s coming. The main thing of his bowling is his aggression."

 

About the one area where Pakistan have concerns, if not all the teams, is the use of the batting powerplay; of course it is not just a Pakistan problem. It is one most teams are facing. It is still a grey area and one where the players in the middle need to judge when it should be taken.

 

Most associate teams seem to take it when the eighth or ninth wicket has fallen and its tactical use has been rendered as effective as a water pistol aimed at a raging bush fire.

 

Vettori was more in the mood of how the team was working out their own strategies. One the areas New Zealand are all too aware in the way Pakistan play. They played a Test and a one-day series in the land of the long white cloud over December and January and there is to be certain formulaic about how the teams will approach the game.

 

"We know all too well it is a big game as it is one we are aware we need to win," he said. "We have performed well and we have let ourselves down. It is a matter of adjustment as each new venue had its own characteristics.

 

"We practiced on a surface that we thought was a lot quicker than we expected and it was a good lesson for us," he added.

 

Such comments are not surprising, the Kiwis were in Pallekele last year, playing a practice match before the Dambulla triangular where they eventually faded badly. At the time the comment was the how the venue is one where there is a little more bounce for the bowlers.

 

While Vettori was chatting away, he would be mindful of the log placings. Pakistan with three wins have six points; Australia after Saturday’s washout five; Sri Lanka have three and the Kiwis are marginally ahead with wins over associates Kenya and Zimbabwe who they beat with ease. The game against Australia, which they lost, has left the side drifting and the knowledge they now need to beat Pakistan and Sri Lanka to reach the quarterfinals.

 

It was a case of though of hard work in the field and the hot afternoon sun with John Wright handling the fielding practice with the same efficiency many remember when he handled India. The rawboned, chiselled features of the man doing what he can to rescue New Zealand after two disastrous coaches took the team backwards, knows how this side has the makings of one that can at least put an impressive act together against the top five.

 

Or as Vettori explained, "It is all about yourself and how your performance is going to be put together. We know we have simple plans and what we can do best in such conditions."

 

While rain clouds gathered late afternoon, the hope is there will be none Tuesday when both sides would rather win a game than feel the frustration of sharing points.