Pakistan v New Zealand in 2nd ODI at Abu Dhabi today

Pakistan and New Zealand will feature in the second ODI at Abu Dhabi today. 

Pakistan leads the series 1-0 and a win here will give them an unassailable lead in the three-game series. 

The first game on the same ground had seen Pakistan pile up 287 after batting first on a track that was marginally slow to bat on and on which 200 was said to be a fighting total. 

That also underlined the problems that the New Zealand side faced with their bowling attack in the game, having lost Kyle Mills and James Franklin to injuries before the game. 

And with Pakistan possessing an attack that looks to be one of the better ones in the world, Coral offers 1/2 for their win as compared to 7/4 (888Sport) for the Kiwis to go into the final game with the series alive.

The Pakistani selection in the first game came as a surprise to many an expert. 

Khalid Latif (5/1 at Ladbrokes to top the batting for his side) was preferred as the opener and he went on to bat through 40 overs for his half century. 

He looked like having got the top score for the innings, till Shahid Afridi (8/1 at Betfred to be Pakistan’s best batsman) and Kamran Akmal (7/1 at 888Sport to be Pakistan’s batsman) upset the Kiwi bowlers’ calculations. 

The pair played two of the best innings in the ODI format under the circumstances, and the strike-rates of almost 150 each meant that the Pakistanis managed to get to their extraordinary total. 

Despite Younus Khan’s woeful touch with the bat – he was dismissed for a duck by Shane Bond – Boylesports has him as the favourite – 4/1 – to top the Pakistani batting line-up.

The New Zealand batting was listless. 

Except for a grinding innings of 52 by Aaron Redmond (5/1 at Totesport to top the Kiwi batting), and a usual face-saving effort of 38 by their skipper Daniel Vettori (12/1 at Betfred to top the batting), the rest of the batting fell away. 

Brendon McCullum (4/1 at Sky Bet to top the New Zealand batting) had been one of the strongest hitters of the cricket ball, but he has been going through a rather lean patch; probably caught between the want to play his natural game and bat through the innings. 

It will need McCullum to fire along with the bookies’ favourite to be the best batsman for New Zealand, Ross Taylor (7/2 at Coral) for them to have any hope of squaring the series.

Pakistan win the 2009 T20 Cricket World Cup

After defeating an invincible Sri Lankan team, Pakistan have risen to become the world champions in the T20 Cricket World Cup.

Amid roars of ‘Pakistan Zindabad!’ and ‘Boom Boom Afridi!’ at the historic grounds of Lord’s, Shahid Afridi’s sensible yet electrifying batting took Pakistan Cricket to new heights.

People in Lahore and throughout Pakistan are celebrating on the streets, in their homes and at dozens of public screenings. Sweets, crackers, fireworks, and shouts of Boom Boom Afridi heard everywhere.

So much for a nation sunk in depression and conflict for so long; we badly needed this victory… :)

Pakistan Zindabad!

Pakistan v New Zealand 1st ODI

Pakistan beat New Zealand by 138 runs

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat

Pakistan Innings

287 for 9 (50.0 overs)

New Zealand Innings

149 all out (39.2 overs)

Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Khalid Latif hit half-centuries to help Pakistan reach 287-9 in the first day-night international against New Zealand at Abu Dhabi Stadium here on Tuesday.

Dashing all-rounder Afridi hit a quickfire 50-ball 70 and opener Latif a snail-paced 64 to help Pakistan recover from a precarious 75-4 after Younus Khan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.

Akmal gave the innings final touches with a belligerent 43-ball 67 laced with four sixes and five boundaries as Pakistan ran rampage, collecting 107 in the last ten overs.

Afridi, vice captain of the side, was instrumental in initially stepping up the run-rate with his bold hitting as he smashed three sixes and four boundaries during his 30th half-century.

He added 101 runs for the fifth wicket with Latif after New Zealand paceman Shane Bond dismissed opener Salman Butt and Younus -- both without scoring -- in his incisive five-over spell.

Latif, who scored 19 in his only previous one-day in January last year, was also involved in a 57-run stand for the third wicket with Mohammad Yousuf, who shaped well for his 30 before being run out.

Afridi hit Vettori for a six before smashing two off successive deliveries off Nathan McCullum. He hit Bond for a straight drive to reach half-century off 36 deliveries, his first after 33 matches.

Afridi's last ODI fifty came against Zimbabwe at Multan last year.

Paceman Jacob Oram finally got Afridi off a miscued shot, caught at short fine-leg in the 39th over to break a repair-damaging partnership. Latif followed, bowled by Vettori's viscious arm ball two overs later.

Latif hit only two boundaries during his 112-ball knock.

Kamran's innings was special as he made full use of the power-play, and added 86 off just 37 balls for the seventh wicket with Abdul Razzaq, who made 20-ball 26.

The three-match one-day series was relocated to Abu Dhabi after New Zealand refused to tour Pakistan over security fears.

Watch Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st ODI Live

Watch Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st ODI Live

CLiCK Here To Watch Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st ODI Live

Younis urges Pakistan to improve fielding in NZ series

Pakistan captain Younis Khan is looking forward to an improved fielding performance from his team in the three-match one-day series against New Zealand starting here from Tuesday.

Fielding let Pakistan down when the two teams met in last month's semi-final of the Champions Trophy in South Africa, where Younus himself dropped a sitter off Grant Elliott which cost his team dearly.

"We need to field very well, and this is one area where we need improvement as New Zealand have a clear edge on us in this department," said Younis during the unveiling of the series on Monday.

Historically, Pakistan is one of the lower ranked teams when it comes to fielding, and Younus was quick to point out the grey area.

"We suffer a lot because of fielding but boys have shown inclination to improve fielding and I am sure this series will not only see them bat well, bowl well, but also field well," said Younis.

"They (New Zealand) are a very dangerous side and we have to be at our best in all three departments to beat them. They have quality players so it would be 50-50 when we start the series."

Pakistan was forced to relocate the series out of their country after New Zealand refused to tour them following terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team in March this year.

The attacks, which killed eight people and left seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured, ended all hopes of Pakistan staging any international cricket in the foreseeable future.

The remaining two one-day matches will be played here on November 6 and 9 before the two teams move to Dubai to play two Twenty20 internationals on November 12 and 13.

After this limited over series, the two teams will play three Tests in New Zealand, also scheduled to be played in Pakistan but moved over security fears.

New Zealand, already depleted by the injuries to opener Jesse Ryder, all-rounder Elliott and pace spearhead Daryl Tuffey -- all missing from the tour, face a wait on paceman Kyle Mills, nursing a shoulder injury.

"Mills is doubtful with a sore shoulder, but we have Tim Southee who can fill in if Mills doesn't play," said Daniel Vettori, who will also be acting coach after Andy Moles resigned following differences with players last month.

Vettori said his team is keen to carry on the momentum built in the Champions Trophy where they finished runners-up to Australia.

"It was good to reach here a week before the start of the series and we are determined to build on the good work achieved in the Champions Trophy," said Vettori, whose team is on a five match (one-day) winning sequence against Pakistan.

Vettori confirmed Brendon McCullum will open the innings despite his recent failures and suggestions that he should bat down the order.

"If the pitch here in Abu Dhabi is the same as we had in Dubai, then it will produce a lot of runs and we will go with Brendon opening the innings, and hope to put good total on the board."