Pakistan Beat New Zealand, Moin Scores Century

HYDERABAD: A splendid rearguard fightback by wicketkeeper batsman Moin Khan followed up a scintillating bowling spell by Azhar Mehmood helped Pakistan record a 16-run win over New Zealand and enter the finals of the three nation invitation cricket tournament for the Siyaram’s Cup at the Lal Bahadur Stadium here, June 13.

Pakistan, electing to bat, scored a comfortable 306 for 7 in the stipulated 50 overs and bowled out New Zealand for 290 in 48 overs to record a fine victory and storm into the final to be played, June 16.

Pakistan suffered early hiccups by losing big guns Saeed Anwar (12), Shahid Afridi (4), Rameez Raja (17) and Salim Malik (11) but the big hitting Inzamam-ul-Haq (79), and ‘Man-of-the Match’ Moin Khan (109 no) stemmed the rot to boost the total with some lusty hitting.

Chasing a formidable score, the Kiwi batsmen fell prey to the accurate bowling of Azhar Mehmood who claimed three wickets in the first two overs. He bowled to reduce New Zealand to 3 wickets for 5 runs.

Mark Greatbatch, the hero of 1992 World Cup for Kiwis, rediscovered his form and co-authored the script of great fightback along with the aggressive Craig McMillan to add 159 runs for the fifth wicket.

Greatbatch and McMillan flourished with the introduction of spinners Arshad Khan and Md Hussain and treated them with contempt playing lofted shots all over the ground with McMillan being more aggressive of the two. He scored a blazing 82 off just 54 balls, studded with seven hits to the fence and five sixes, and subdued the Pakistan bowlers by unleashing chaste aggression.

After hitting two consecutive sixes over long on and deep midwicket off Hussain, McMillan lofted the ball for a third one which fell short and Aqib Javed judged the catch well to give the new comer his first wicket of the tour.

The veteran Greatbatch was joined by Skipper Stephen Fleming and the duo were all set to guide the team to the victory lap before the blurry Greatbatch played a needless lofted shot only to be caught brilliantly by substitute in the deep for a well made 102, laced with 10 hits to the fence and three huge sixes.

Fleming (20) failed on the Indian grounds once again when victory was within reach and perished to a flighted delivery of Arshad Khan and the match swiftly shifted in favor of Pakistan.

The tailenders were seen off without much ado and New Zealand were bundled out for 290 in 48 overs with Pakistan winning the match by 16 runs.

New Zealand, who lost to India a day earlier by 135 runs, is out of the tournament and arch rivals India and Pakistan are in the final. (PTI)

Copyright © 1997 IndiaWeb Post. All rights reserved.