da brdice： In a semi-final both teams could have won (and, arguably, should have won)New Zealand prevailed over Pakistan to earn themselves a place in the finalof the ICC KnockOut tournament on Sunday
Peter Robinson11-Oct-2000In a semi-final both teams could have won (and, arguably, should have won)New Zealand prevailed over Pakistan to earn themselves a place in the finalof the ICC KnockOut tournament on Sunday. They will play the winners of thesecond semi-final between South Africa and India on Friday.For most, including, one suspects, the Pakistanis themselves, Pakistan werestrong favourites to repeat their resounding nine-wicket victory in lastyear’s World Cup semi-final. New Zealand knew this – captain Stephen Flemingconfirmed that his team had used this to build themselves up – and when itcame down to the wire, it seemed the Kiwis wanted to win just a little morefiercely.Certainly, they kept their nerve better, none more so than Craig McMillanand Scott Styris who yanked the innings back on course after it hadthreatened to wander off into the distance at 187 for six and two wicketshad fallen to successive deliveries.McMillan and Styris won the match with an unbroken seventh-wicketpartnership that yielded 68. It was not, perhaps, entirely composed batting,but it was brave batting against perhaps the most naturally gifted team inworld cricket.The foundations of victory, however, had been laid by Roger Twose and NathanAstle in a wonderful 135-run stand for the third wicket. Twose was theaggressor as he made 87 – his fifth 50 in a row, but the century continuesto elude him; a fact that might now be preying on his mind every time hegets a start – while Astle played backup.It was a productive combination and one, perhaps, that forced Pakistancaptain Moin Khan’s hand as he juggled his five-man attack.”We knew they were going to have problems from 15 overs out,” said Flemingand Pakistan were left having to pair Arshad Khan and Wasim Akram. Everyoneelse had been bowled out, but Moin must have wished for a couple more oversfrom Abdur Razzaq or Saqlain Mushtaq. Or even, for that matter, Waqar Younisfor whom this tournament has proved nothing more than a sightseeing jaunt.Whatever the case, Pakistan had also left themselves, as Moin confirmed, 20or 30 runs short after the blistering start given to them by Saeed Anwar. Hesmashed Geoff Allott out of the attack as he set up his 19th one-daycentury, but the middle order fell apart in the middle overs withInzamam-ul-Haq, Ijaz Ahmed and Moin contributing just six between them.Razzaq hit 48 and Wasim 34 to pick things up again, but 252 was simply notenough, especially after the side had been 100 for one after 20 overs.Of course, New Zealand’s bowlers had something to do with this. Astle, ChrisHarris and Styris all played their part in slowing Pakistan down and at thedeath Shayne O’Connor completed the five-wicket haul that earned him theman-of-the-match award.His last three victims all fell to full tosses, but, as he noted, it’sbetter to bowl too full than too short.Perhaps Pakistan were complacent, perhaps they didn’t pay New Zealand theirdue regard. These are not the sort of things that losing teams admit to inthe immediate wake of defeat.New Zealand, however, want to be seen as one of the world’s top one-daysides. On Sunday they have the opportunity to claim that title.