Pakistan kept chipping away at the wickets to keep their chances alive against New Zealand [ Images ] in the second semi-final of the ICC [ Images ] Champions Trophy [ Images ] in Johannesburg, on Saturday.
Chasing 234 for victory, New Zealand lost the key wickets of Brendon McCullum [ Images ] (17) followed by Martin Guptill [ Images ] (11) in the first ten overs of the match. Debutant Aaron Redmond batted hard for 31 from 55 deliveries, before he was caught and bowled by Saeed Ajmal [ Images ].
19-year-old Umar Akmal scored a brisk 55 from 62 deliveries, adding 80 runs for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Yousuf [ Images ] (45 from 78 deliveries) to help Pakistan reach 233 for nine in their 50 overs.
Brendon McCullum got off the blocks in style when he pulled left-armer Mohammad Aamer for a huge six over midwicket off the second ball of the innings. He then
guided Naved-ul-Hasan through fine leg for a boundary and opening partner Aaron Redmond followed it up with his first boundary as New Zealand raced to 18 for no loss after two overs.
Pakistan struck with the big wicket of McCullum who was outdone by Aamer after scoring 17 from 16 deliveries. Aamer pitched one wide off-stump and McCullum tried to launch it over the cover region but ending up skying a high catch which was neatly held by Shahid Afridi [ Images ] pedalling backwards. (22-1, 4.3)
Martin Guptill announced himself with a cracking six off Naved over the midwicket region followed by a boundary through point three deliveries later in the eighth over.
Umar Gul's introduction paid off as he claimed the wicket of Guptill with his very first delivery. Guptill tried another short arm pull through midwicket but this time he got the top edge and was taken by Naved at mid-on for 11. (43-2, 9.1)
Ross Taylor [ Images ] got off the mark in style when he creamed Aamer through the covers for a boundary in the 11th over and Redmond followed it up with his fourth boundary when he slapped Gul through point.
Just when the two batsmen were getting settled, Saeed Ajmal brought Pakistan back with the wicket of Redmond, who was beaten by the doosra to be caught and bowled for 31. (71-3, 16.4)
PAKISTAN:
Pakistan were in danger of finishing around the 200-run mark but tailenders Mohammad Aamer (19 from 20 deliveries) and Saeed Ajmal (14 from 17 deliveries) saved the day with an unbroken stand of 35 for the last wicket.
The 19-year-old Umar Akmal kept Pakistan ticking in the middle overs, scoring a brisk 55 from 62 deliveries, adding 80 runs for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Yousuf, who scored a patient 45 from 78 deliveries.
Imran Nazir [ Images ] started off in positive fashion as he thumped the third ball of the match, from Kyle Mills [ Images ], through covers for a boundary. But both openers, Nazir and Kamran Akmal, adopted a cautious approach in the initial overs, especially against Shane Bond [ Images ], as a result of which just 16 runs were scored in the first five overs.
The first bowling change was the impetus Pakistan needed. Ian Butler, introduced in the ninth over, was smashed for three boundaries by Nazir in his first over as the pacer erred with his line and length.
Bond though ensured Pakistan were not let off the hook as he struck with the wicket of Nazir. The Pakistan opener, who made 28 from 40 deliveries, was done in by a quick short delivery that Nazir could only fend to Ross Taylor at first slip. (46-1, 9.4)
Akmal took over the mantle after Nazir's dismissal and looked to keep the scoreboard moving with boundaries in successive overs by Butler and Bond.
After two disapponting overs, Butler finally found his rhythm and made Pakistan suffer with wickets in successive overs.
First, Butler sent back the in-form Shoaib Malik [ Images ], who edged behind and was caught by Taylor at first slip for 2. (61-2, 12.5)
Akmal looked to take on Butler with a lofted shot over the cover region, but debutant Aaron Redmond came up with a brilliant catch running in to send back the Pakistan opener for 24 from 35 deliveries. (69-3, 14.2)
Pakistan's two most experienced batsmen, Younis Khan [ Images ] and Mohammad Yousuf, looked in no hurry at all and were content to bide their time as New Zealand kept things tight.
But things didn't go as per plan for New Zealand, as captain Younis Khan was snapped up by opposite number Daniel Vettori [ Images ] for 15. Younis tried to play Vettori on the leg side but got a leading edge to give Taylor his third catch of the innings. (86-4, 20.5)
That wicket put Pakistan back big time, as boundaries dried up before youngster Umar Akmal broke the shackles with consecutive boundaries off Vettori. The first one was slog-swept through midwicket while he tried to cut the next one but got a thick edge which sped into the third man boundary as Pakistan crossed the 100-run mark after 25 overs.
But Vettori was difficult to score off, as he bowled two maidens in his first six overs, while giving away just 19 runs to restrict Pakistan to 118 for four after 30 overs.
Akmal was intent not to let the Kiwi bowlers dominate. He once again took a liking to Vettori and slammed him for consecutive boundaries through the off-side in the 31st over. Yousuf though struggled, scoring just 29 in 63 deliveries with a single boundary, while at the other end Akmal was looking positive on 32 from 44 deliveries, inclusive of four boundaries.
Vettori brought back Bond and Mills after the 36th over looking to break the Yousuf-Akmal partnership and it was the latter who answered his captain's call. Yousuf after a patient innings of 45 from 78 deliveries played onto his stumps looking to run a short delivery to third man. (166-5, 39)
Yousuf and Akmal added 80 runs in 18.1 overs for the fifth wicket to keep Pakistan ticking in the middle overs.
Akmal never seemed in any sort of problem and brought up a deserved half-century off just 58 deliveries to take Pakistan to 174 for five after 40 overs.
Pakistan's aim of making up for the slow run rate in the middle overs by taking the Batting Powerplay in the final few overs all but ended with the quick dismissals of Akmal and Shahid Afridi within the space of four deliveries.
Akmal's brave knock came to an unlucky end when he was adjudged leg before wicket to Vettori for 55 from 62 deliveries. The youngster walked back in disgust after television replays showed he got an inside edge before he was struck on the pads. (181-6, 40.5)
In the next over, Afridi was dismissed caught behind by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum off Butler for four, attempting to run it down to the third man region. (183-7, 41.2)
Butler bagged his fourth wicket when Umar Gul holed out on the off-side after scoring six off eight deliveries as Pakistan's batting collapse continued. (192-8, 43.3)
Pakistan took the Powerplay after 44 overs and immediately Naved-ul-Hasan stepped down the wicket and launched Vettori over the cover region for a big six. However, the Kiwi captain had his revenge off the very next delivery when he tried the slog sweep but got a top edge and was taken by Martin Guptill at midwicket. (198-9, 44.2)
Just when it looked New Zealand would wrap the Pakistan innings around 200, Mohammad Aamer spoiled their plans with three boundaries off Bond in the 47th over. Twice the 17-year-old left-hander thrashed Bond through the cover region and followed that with a pulled boundary over midwicket to collect some vital runs for his team. Source cricket.rediff.com
Aamer scored a quick 19 from 20 deliveries, while Saeed Ajmal made 14 from 17 deliveries to lift Pakistan to a competitive 233 for nine in their 50 overs. The two tailenders added valuable 35 runs in 34 deliveries for the last wicket, having hit six boundaries between them, ensuring that Pakistan used up their full quota of overs.
Butler was New Zealand's star with the ball as he broke the backbone of the Pakistan batting in the middle overs, claiming four for 44 in ten overs. Vettori, despite struggling from a sore back, ended with respectable figures of three for 43 in ten overs.
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