Champions Trophy 2009 Update-News, views , Discussion

natarajan

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jawan
just my personal i wish to see Pakistan win except against india
 

Pintu

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AFP: We won't relax, vows Pakistan captain

We won't relax, vows Pakistan captain

(AFP) – 52 minutes ago

JOHANNESBURG — Skipper Younus Khan says Pakistan will not relax against Australia in their Champions Trophy match on Wednesday despite having already qualified for the semi-finals.

"In my mind, there is nothing of the sort of playing a relaxed game. You are in a good form, continue with that and keep playing good cricket," Younus told reporters on the eve of the match.

"So, there is a simple message from me to my team 'play to your potential and that is it'."

Pakistan have already made it to the semi-finals with four points from two wins in the four-team Group A, while defending champions Australia are well-placed to join them with three points from two games.

India have one point and the West Indies none after two matches. The top two sides make it to the semi-finals.

India's slim hopes rest first on a Pakistan victory over formidable Australia in a day match at Centurion on Wednesday and then beating the West Indies in a day-night game here just hours later.

Even if Australia lose to Pakistan and India beat the West Indies, the second semi-finalist will be decided on net run-rate. Australia (+1.000) are currently well ahead of India (-1.080) on net run-rate.

Younus said his team were keen to put in an impressive performance against in-form Australia, who have lost just one of their last nine one-dayers.

"They are a top side and played very well against India yesterday. If we play well, it will be great. We'll be trying our best and my wish is to win against top teams," he said.

The Pakistani skipper also hinted that there could be changes from the side that beat India by 54 runs in the previous match.

"I will try to play a full-strength team, but there could be one or two changes," he said.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he was happy that his batsmen were in form going into Wednesday's match.

Australia were set to post a big total against India on Monday before the match was called off due to rain, having scored 234-4 in 42.3 overs following half-centuries from Michael Hussey (67), Ponting (65) and Tim Paine (56).

"We were disappointed the game did not finish. We were in a strong position and with wickets in hand and a few overs to go, I thought we would have made it to 300," said Ponting.

"A positive was that we got in some good time against some quality spinners. Our batsmen played well so that's really good going into the Pakistan match, where there will surely be two spinners playing.

"Hussey and Paine played the spinners very well against India and that augurs well for the upcoming match."
 

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AFP: India to cheer rivals Pakistan at Champs Trophy

India to cheer rivals Pakistan at Champs Trophy

By Shahid Hashmi (AFP) – 7 hours ago

KARACHI — While relations between nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India are tense off pitch, some fans and cricket greats hope the Champions Trophy will bring the nations closer.

Come Wednesday, Indians will be cheering for a Pakistan win against Australia in the Group A clash of the Champions Trophy in South Africa, a victory that could also propel India to the semi-finals.

If Pakistan wins at Centurion, arch-rivals India -- currently third in their group -- may sneak through to the semi-final on points.

"It is interesting. The whole of India will be praying for a Pakistan win for a change," said former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja.

"I think it's a God-given opportunity for both the countries and with Indian fans praying for a Pakistan win, I hope that both the countries take this opportunity to come close to each other."

Pakistan, who have never won the biennial Champions Trophy, qualified for the semi-finals after beating the West Indies by five wickets and India by 54 runs in victories that sparked jubilation across Pakistan.

India, who shared the Trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002, are battling to remain in the tournament after their important match against Australia was rained off at Centurion on Monday, resulting in a draw.

Australia, the defending champions, have three points to India's one.

While Raja remains positive, some of his country's fans may be hoping for a Pakistan loss to deny India a run at the championship, while others are itching for the excitement of a potential India-Pakistan final.

"I wish Pakistan beat Australia and then we have an Indo-Pak final and we beat our rivals once again," said fan Arsal Siddiqui.

Former paceman Sarfraz Nawaz hopes Pakistan do not go easy on Australia.

"It's India's fate and I would celebrate if India goes out of the event," said Nawaz. "But Pakistan must beat Australia to carry a winning momentum."

Regardless of the outcome Wednesday, Raja hopes for a resumption of the Pakistan-India bilateral series, which New Delhi called off after blaming Pakistan-based militants for the Mumbai attacks last November.

The attacks further strained tensions between the neighbours, and stalled a fragile four-year peace process between the South Asian foes.

"It is for the good of international cricket that Pakistan and India continue to play each other," said Raja.

India were due to play three Tests and five one-day matches in Pakistan this year.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt said earlier this week that he was pushing for a revival of the India-Pakistan series, and said he had assurances from the International Cricket Council that it could be held on neutral ground.

The two countries, which gained independence from British rule and split in the 1947 partition, have fought three bitter territorial wars.

India and Pakistan's foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting last week, generating hopes for a resumption of stalled peace talks.

But the shadow of Mumbai loomed heavy, with India's SM Krishna urging his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi to speed up investigation of Pakistani militants responsible for the siege which left 166 people dead.
 

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The Press Association: Colly wobbles as England struggle

Colly wobbles as England struggle

(UKPA) – 1 hour ago

Paul Collingwood was at the centre of another sporting call from a captain in England's Champions Trophy contest against New Zealand.

Collingwood was reprieved by Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori after carelessly wandering out of his crease, in the 11th over of England's 146 all out at the Wanderers.

Having been beaten by a brute of a delivery from Kyle Mills, Collingwood stepped two yards up the wicket to examine the spot it had landed and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum under-armed the ball into the stumps in a flash.

Technically, Collingwood should have re-entered his ground before his spot of pitch gardening, and square-leg umpire Asad Rauf called for third umpire adjudication. As New Zealand prepared to start the next over, Collingwood ran to mid-off to shake hands with Vettori.

Andrew Strauss, Joe Denly and Owais Shah all perished inside the opening half a dozen overs after the New Zealanders won the toss.

That meant Eoin Morgan, who continued as England's emergency wicketkeeper with first-choice Matt Prior still suffering from a virus, and Collingwood were required to take stock.

Despite knuckling down to the situation, however, left-hander Morgan succumbed to Ian Butler's extra bounce, having scored nine off 40 balls. Collingwood, who cracked three sixes in a top score of 40, was also undone by extra lift as he miscued a pull off Grant Elliott to midwicket.

And Elliott trebled his return with the dismissals of Luke Wright and Stuart Broad in quick succession and when Graeme Swann provided McCullum with a skier, it sealed the South African-born all-rounder's best-ever figures in a one-day international.

The inconsistency in the surface then did for Ravi Bopara, whose stubborn 30, came to its conclusion when he was pinned on the pads by a grubber from Bond.

Only a last-wicket stand between Ryan Sidebottom, preferred to Graham Onions in an unforced change, and James Anderson shared 29 runs for the 10th wicket.
 

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The Canadian Press: Champions Trophy: New Zealand defeats England by four wickets

Champions Trophy: New Zealand defeats England by four wickets

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 1 hour ago

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Brendon McCullum hit 48 off 39 balls after taking four wicketkeeping catches Tuesday to lead New Zealand to a four-wicket win over England and advance to the Champions Trophy semifinals as Group B winners.

New Zealand's Grant Elliott took a career-best 4-31 to help dismiss England for 146 in the 44th over on an uneven pitch helping seamers at Wanderers Stadium, and openers McCullum and Martin Guptill (53) then put on 84 in under 13 overs to set up the win.

"Brendon realized that if he could rip the guts out of England's resistance at the start of chasing that small total, we could take it away from them," New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said.

McCullum smashed three sixes and four boundaries, while Guptill faced 55 balls and struck seven fours and a six.

New Zealand lost 6-56 to give England a sliver of hope with Stuart Broad taking 4-39, but Vettori and James Franklin took the Kiwis home with more than 22 overs to spare.

"Stuart bowled exceptionally well," England captain Andrew Strauss said. "But we needed a bit of luck early on and we didn't get it on a wicket that was not a great one for one-day cricket, to be honest."

New Zealand and England both had four points in the group, but the Kiwis have a superior run rate. South Africa and Sri Lanka were eliminated.

Paul Collingwood top-scored for England with 40 and Ravi Bopara made 30 after New Zealand won the toss and bowled.

Strauss was the first victim of the pitch, sparring at a lifting delivery from Kyle Mills to be caught behind for a duck on the second ball of the innings.

Elliott made his first-class debut at the Wanderers before playing in the Netherlands and then moving to New Zealand to climb through the ranks into the national side.

"Elliott came back and gave us the impetus in the middle when the game started to drift from us a bit," Vettori said.

Elliott got rid of Collingwood after he pulled a shorter delivery - a shot that had brought him some success - and Ross Taylor took a leaping catch at midwicket. Collingwood hit two fours and three sixes in 58 balls.

Bopara was trapped lbw by Bond to a ball that kept very low.

A last-wicket stand between Ryan Sidebottom (20) and Anderson (4 not out) resisted the Kiwis for more than eight overs.

Elliott was assisted by Shane Bond, who took 3-21 from 10 overs.

"New Zealand put the ball in the right areas and didn't give us any freebies, and then we couldn't do anything when their openers came at us in the beginning of their innings," Strauss said.
 

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The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | Just too much left to do

Just too much left to do
- Dhoni’s men take on West indies with a mission and a prayer


LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI


Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Johannesburg: Even the most gifted scriptwriter couldn’t have visualised the Indian cricketers actually wanting Pakistan to win!

All for selfish reasons, no doubt, but that’s exactly how the 2009 Champions Trophy-cookie has crumbled for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men.

Indeed, the abandonment of Monday’s match against world champions and holders Australia, in Centurion, has almost knocked Team India out of the tournament.

Beginning with the praying, there’s just too much to do on Wednesday.

To qualify for the semi-finals, Dhoni and Co. have to (a) hope that Pakistan thrash Australia in the day game at Centurion and (b) that they themselves whip the West Indies in the day-night match at the Wanderers here.

It’s an ask taller than the Petronas Towers in KL.

In fact, there’s every chance that even a massive win against the under-strength West Indies may mean nothing. So far, the Floyd Reifers have merely been completing the numbers in this edition.

However, the wicket at the Wanderers was back to doing quite a bit, on Tuesday, and the West Indies quicks can be expected to make things hot even if the temperature again dips in Johannesburg.

As things stand in Group A, Pakistan are assured of one semi-final berth, with Australia set to take the other.

“Our strategy and the composition of our XI would be clear by the afternoon, by when the first innings of the Pakistan-Australia game would be over... It’s an odd match for us, where there’ll be everything to achieve,” Dhoni said.

He added: “Hopefully, Pakistan will win... One may expect Indian fans to cheer for them... I wouldn’t say there’s a winning formula as such, for if there was one, then all teams would be applying it... Younis Khan’s a good captain, I don’t need to give any advice.”

According to Dhoni, his team had been doing “everything” to prepare well. “On days, we’ve put in four-five hours of practice... One can accept defeat as long as one has prepared well... I’ve always maintained that winning and losing is part of the game.”

Asked if he’d been concerned by, among other things, a fall in his quicks’ pace, Dhoni replied: “Not really... The bigger concern is over line and length... South Africa had the fastest, but they went for runs... Line and length counts for the most...”

Dhoni made the point that if a policy of rotation was to be implemented and the bench strength wasn’t exactly up to it, then a “few defeats would’ve to be accepted.” He added: “Rotation is a process of saving the big players and giving exposure to the younger ones.”

Rotation hasn’t been attempted in South Africa, but the non-availability of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan (all through injuries) has left a huge hole.

While no decision has been taken on the XI, Dinesh Karthik may make it at the expense of a specialist bowler if the batting needs to be strengthened.

Five specialists, including Amit Mishra, were fielded against Australia.

Meanwhile, Pakistan don’t intend doing India a favour, but don’t want to lose momentum either. “We’ve won two matches and momentum is important,” a member of the team management told The Telegraph.

Not that favours have really been granted, but the Andrew Strauss-Graeme Smith ‘showdown’ the other night has taken the no-holds-barred bit in cricket to another level.

“I’ve got to look at what’s good for my team... It would be nice to beat Australia... It’s always good to win against top teams... Things shouldn’t become political... Personally, I’d like a Pakistan-India final... I’d said the same thing during the World T20,” Younis maintained.

Match starts: 6 pm (IST).
 

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The Press Association: Broad and Prior in fitness race

Broad and Prior in fitness race

(UKPA) – 1 hour ago

Ashes heroes Stuart Broad and Matt Prior are doubtful for Friday's Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia at Centurion.

England will decide upon their participation for the 15th meeting scheduled between the sides inside three months in the morning. All-rounder Broad underwent a scan before practice on Wednesday morning which revealed a minor tear in his left buttock and, although he later bowled at full capacity in the nets at Centurion, he is restricted in certain movements and continues to experience discomfort.

Wicketkeeper Prior, meanwhile, is still not fully recovered from a virus despite returning to training, so Steven Davies has been placed on standby with International Cricket Council approval.

"Stuart Broad is struggling a bit but we haven't ruled him out yet," said England coach Andy Flower. "He bowled at full pace in the nets and he was okay bowling, and then we gave him a test running between the wickets and fielding, but he's not at 100% so we'll make a decision on him in the morning."

One option is for 23-year-old Broad to have a painkilling injection to feature in the day-nighter but Flower appeared reluctant to go down that route. Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan is the obvious like-for-like replacement in the 15-man squad.

"We'd take medical advice on him having a jab because we don't want to damage him further," said Flower.

Broad is full of niggles following a full international summer and was recently rested for the end of the 6-1 NatWest Series thrashing because of a knee problem.

Because the tear in the muscle is relatively small, further rest could potentially allow him to play in the final, should England qualify.

"I don't think we can definitively say that it would be right by Monday but it would be better if we rested him," Flower said. "It would be a blow to lose him because he is starting to hit his straps as a bowler.

"He came in and wasn't at his best at the start of the tournament, but watching him bowl in the last game it looks like he's hitting them again."
 

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Has Dhoni lost his midas touch as India captain? - Top Stories - Champions Trophy 2009 - Series & Tournaments - Cricket - SPORTS - The Times of India

Has Dhoni lost his midas touch as India captain?
PTI 1 October 2009, 04:47pm IST

JOHANNESBURG: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, regarded as the man with the midas touch, is feeling the heat for the first time in his otherwise fabled spell as captain of the Indian team.

Dhoni, under whose captaincy India is yet to lose a Test match and came to Champions Trophy with six successive One-day series win, now seriously needs to reassess his leadership skills after India cut a sorry figure in two elite ICC events this year, the Twenty20 World Cup in England and the on-going Champions Trophy in South Africa.

India's poor showing in the Twenty20 World Cup was attributed to batsmen's failure against short-pitched balls and now after the Champions Trophy debacle, the blame has been put on bowlers. But somewhere in between, it's the passivity in Dhoni's captaincy which has escaped the radar of scrutiny.

Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has expressed concerns that young Indian fast bowlers start around the 140kmph mark and within a year slip down to 120s and 130s.

Akram reveals that his skipper Imran Khan always wanted him to bowl fast and not to worry about line and length.

But it seems Dhoni differ on the topic as a day before their last group league match against West Indies, he told reporters, "It's not about bowling 140 or 145-plus. At the end of the day, you have to bowl the right line and length."

Dhoni cited the example of South African fast bowlers, who despite their speed were taken to cleaners by opposition batsmen on the bland Centurion pitches.

But only Wayne Parnell can be cited as an example as he is young, wet behind his ears, and can lose his bearing. Someone like Dale Steyn still sends chill down the spine of rival batsmen. His economy rate is a mere 4.78 from three matches and has picked up six wickets.

Is Dhoni's flair for captaincy is now becoming a victim of pragmatism? His approach to batting would certainly suggest so. Instead of the flamboyant and rampaging presence at the crease, he now builds his innings in singles and he himself acknowledged it during the Twenty20 World Cup.

The India skipper let Pakistan off the hook by bringing in his part-time bowlers rather than go for all out attack with Harbhajan Singh when Pakistan were on the ropes at 65 for 3. The result, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf soon found their bearing and posted a 206-run fourth wicket stand to pile up the big score.

Akram was critical that Dhoni never had a word with Harbhajan when the off-spinner kept spearing it down the middle and leg-stump. He felt the body language of the Indians and Dhoni, in particular, left a lot to be desired.

This season is full of ODIs and even the 2011 World Cup is not far either. It's time for bold experiments and Team India needs a leader who used to seize the bull by the horns and not somebody who presently looks to be just safe and pragmatic.
 

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The Press Association: England struggling at Centurion

England struggling at Centurion

(UKPA) – 1 hour ago

Shane Watson and Peter Siddle claimed two wickets apiece as England collapsed in their ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia at Centurion.

Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee also took a wicket apiece and wicketkeeper Tim Paine held onto four catches as England slipped to 101 for six on a good batting pitch.

It was left to all-rounders Luke Wright and Tim Bresnan to rebuild the innings and carry England towards a respectable total.

Paul Collingwood, equalling Alec Stewart's record of 170 England one-day caps, was just four short of the 206 runs compiled by Graeme Smith, the leading run-scorer in this tournament, when he gloved an attempted pull off Mitchell Johnson for 34.

England captain Andrew Strauss earlier played in similarly positive fashion to Collingwood, top-edging Siddle for six, but was brilliantly caught low down at square-leg by James Hopes off the same bowler.

When Owais Shah succumbed second ball, taken down the leg-side by Paine off Lee, England were struggling on 16 for two.

Joe Denly chased a short, wide ball from Siddle and edged behind to Paine for 36 and debutant Steven Davies played on to Watson for five.

The last recognised batsman Eoin Morgan then got a thin edge through to Paine for nine from an attempted cut, exposing the tail.
 

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AFP: Australia replace Clarke with Hussey

Australia replace Clarke with Hussey

(AFP) – 7 hours ago

JOHANNESBURG — David Hussey has replaced Michael Clarke in the Australia Champions Trophy squad, an International Cricket Council statement said Thursday.

Star batsman and vice-captain Clarke arrived in South Africa after a lengthy tour of England with a lower-back problem and failed to recover despite intensive treatment.

He was the second pivotal figure in the Australian squad forced to return home because of injury after crack bowler Nathan Bracken, whose slot was filled by Doug Bollinger.

Popularly known as 'Huss' or 'Bomber', the 32-year-old right-hand batsman has made 23 appearances for his country at one-day level, scoring 598 runs.

Australia, pre-tournament favourites with hosts South Africa for the two-million-dollar first prize, face England Friday at SuperSport Park between Johannesburg and Pretoria for a place in the October 5 final.
 

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The Press Association: England bow out of Trophy

England bow out of Trophy

(UKPA) – 5 hours ago

Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting produced a batting masterclass to ease defending champions Australia into the ICC Champions Trophy final.

The right-handed pair, whose unbeaten 252-run alliance was Australia's highest for the second wicket in one-day internationals, each struck commanding centuries to see off England by nine wickets with 49 balls to spare and book a return to Centurion for Monday's showpiece.

Ponting's undefeated 111 was his 28th one-day international hundred, and he became the first Australian to register 12,000 runs in the process. It also charged him to the top of the tournament's scorers' chart and kept the Australians on course to claim their fourth 50-over crown in five attempts.

Watson capped a fine personal all-round display by weighing in with 136 not out, getting to three figures with his third six, and striking seven in all thanks to a late flurry, as Australia followed up their 6-1 NatWest Series win in true style.

Such was their assurance at the crease, offering England no chance of a breakthrough, that the result never appeared in doubt once they had recovered the early loss of Tim Paine.

Australia's rampant pursuit firmly put in perspective England's recovery from 101 for six to 257 all out from 47.4 overs, thanks largely to Tim Bresnan and Luke Wright's hundred partnership, on an easy-paced pitch and lightning outfield.

Bresnan, making his first appearance of the competition due to Stuart Broad's muscle tear in his left buttock, struck a one-day best 80 from 76 deliveries with 11 fours, but that paled into comparison to Australia's second pair.

Man-of-the-match Watson's 136 occupied 132 balls, including 10 fours and seven sixes, while Ponting's 111 from 113 contained 12 fours and a maximum.
 

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Younis laments dropping Elliott - Top Stories - Champions Trophy 2009 - Series & Tournaments - Cricket - SPORTS - The Times of India

Younis laments dropping Elliott
PTI 4 October 2009, 02:39am IST

JOHANNESBURG: Pakistan captain Younis Khan on Saturday lamented dropping in-form New Zealand batsman Grant Elliott, conceding holding on to the catch could have changed the complexion of the match.

Elliott, who top-scored with an unbeaten 75, was batting on 42 when he lobbed a Mohammed Aamer delivery to offer the simplest of catch to Younis at short cover.

The Pakistan captain tried to pouch the knee-high catch in the Australian way, only to see the ball pop out of his cupped palms.

Elliott did not look back after that and went on to play a match-winning knock.

"If I had taken that catch, maybe things could have changed," a penitent Younis said after the match.

"But in sports, it happens and it was certainly not the first time (that a player dropped a catch)," he added.

Looking back, Younis felt Pakistani eventually fell 25 runs short in the semi-final.

"I think we were 20-25 runs short. At one stage, when (Mohd) Yousuf and Umar (Akmal) were playing, we looked like making 250. But we struggled in the Powerplays and we collapsed," he rued.

"The plan was that someone from the top four should stay till the end. It was a good pitch to bat on and if you score 250, it would have been very good," he said.

Younis' opposite number Daniel Vettori had a memorable outing as the Kiwi skipper first took three wickets and then returned to hit a crucial 42-ball 41 that not only saw the side through but also earned him the Man of the Match award.

Vettori said restricting Pakistan to 233 was a good effort and he was always confident of chasing down the target.

"It all started with the way we bowled. I think 230 was a score we fancied we could chase. We have not been a consistent side, but we have managed to do that here," he said.

Even though things looked quite bumpy, Vettori said the Kiwis were comfortable with the idea of going run-a-ball towards the end since they had the batting Powerplay.

"We were always thinking of making it 60 off 60. We didn't quite get there but with the Powerplays, it makes such a difference. Elliott was great against (Umar) Gul in that over which took the game away from them," he added.
 

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The Press Association: Black Caps reach final

Black Caps reach final


(UKPA) – 5 hours ago

New Zealand will meet Australia in the Champions Trophy final after an unbeaten half-century from Grant Elliott helped them cruise to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Wanderers.

The all-rounder hit a measured 75 and forged what turned out to be a match-winning 104-run stand with captain Daniel Vettori (41) as the Black Caps eased past the 234-run target with 13 balls to spare.

It came after the captain and Ian Butler, who took a career-best four for 44, shared seven wickets between them to help restrict the Asian side to 233 for nine in their 50 overs - a total built around Umar Akmal (55) and Mohammad Yousuf (45).

New Zealand made a sensational start to their chase, with Brendon McCullum smashing the second delivery bowled by Mohammad Aamer (one for 32) for six over deep midwicket. But the Pakistani paceman had his revenge in the fifth over when the opener chased a wide delivery and only managed to sky his shot towards deep extra cover - Shahid Afridi holding a good chance to send the batsman on his way for 17.

Umar Gul (one for 48) was then introduced to replace the expensive Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and struck first ball when Martin Guptill (11) played a poor attempted pull shot and was caught at mid-on.

Aaron Redmond and Ross Taylor took their side past 50 in the 12th over, before the former was caught and bowled by Saeed Ajmal (two for 39), leaving the Black Caps on 71 for three.

A half-century stand between Taylor and Elliott helped keep their side on track but again the loss of a wicket handed Pakistan the initiative.

Taylor went this time when he played on to Afridi (one for 41) for 38.

Then came a decisive moment in the game, with Younis Khan dropping a gentle lob that was pushed straight into his hands by Elliott. At that stage the batsman was on 42 with New Zealand still needing 69 from 65 balls.

They took the final powerplay in the 43rd over and never looked back, with Elliot going on to share another 50 partnership, this time with Vettori, before his own 50 was brought up in 90 balls as the New Zealanders coasted to victory.
 

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