Kiwis crash with win in sight

HYDERABAD, June 13: When India and Pakistan figure in a three-nation cricket tournament, can the third team win ? The answer from nine out of ten followers of the game is likely to be a firm “No, if Sharjah is the venue.” But wait, Sharjah will not be the sole claimant to this distinction for long. The desert stop might soon be finding itself vying with Hyderabad if the ongoing Siyaram’s Cup is to become an annual feature and Pakistan honour their promise to come here each year.

How else can one explain Pakistan’s 16-run win over New Zealand when, at 199 for 4 in 29 overs, the only plausible result appeared to be an easy win for the Kiwis. About 100 runs from the last 20 odd overs with six wickets in hand is a situation in which any team would eschew risky shots and settle for a safer path to victory. But not this Kiwi side, despite having two well entrenched batsmen at the wicket. Both Mark Greatbatch and Craig McMillan were so well set that they could have very well led their side to the threshold of victory. But both went for their shots as if they were under specific instructions and lost their wickets to set the stage for a Pakistan win.

For, except at two stages when Inzamam-ul Haq (79 in 72 balls) and man of the match Moin Khan (109 not out in 87 balls) were at the wicket and then New Zealand were four down for 40, Pakistan never had the upperhand. But the Kiwis chose to slip from the peak twice.

Brief scores: Pakistan 306-7 in 50 overs (Inzamam-ul Haq 79, Mohd Wasim 29, Moin Khan 109, O’Connor 3-51, McMillan 2-45) beat New Zealand XI 290 in 48 overs (Mark Greatbatch 102, Craig McMillan 82, Vettori 26, Aquib Javed 2-51, Azhar Mahmood 3-38, Mohd Hussain 3-64) by 16 runs.