One of a cricket fans favourite past times is to reminisce about bowlers that had a hold over specific batsmen - their bunnies. From Warne getting out Cullinan, McGrath getting out Atherton and even Verity getting out Bradman it can be funny to remember how techniques, great against some, would crumble at the very sight of others. Well it happens from team to team as well - in New Zealand's case the tormentor seems to be Pakistan (given how often other teams beat them it is strange that NZ fall so often to the most unpredictable team in cricket).
Here is a timeline of major losses that Pakistan has inflicted on the Black Caps in World Cup events:
- 1992 - the semi-final, NZ were the form team of the tournament and in this game Crowe lifted the total to a competitive 262 but then watched Inzamam-ul-haq (60 off 37 balls) destroy the bowling in the late overs (Harris: 10-0-72-1) to leap into the finals (which they won)
- 1999 - the semi-final again and it was worse as Pakistan chased down 241 with 9 wickets in hand and 15 balls remaining (Saeed Anwar: 113* off 140 balls). They were crushed by Australia in the final.
- 2007 - 20/20 world cup semi-final and Pakistan again cast us aside by first keeping us to just 143 (Gul: 4-0-15-3) and then chasing it down with 7 balls to spare (Imran Nazir: 59 off 41 balls)
- 2009 - 20/20 world cup super 8 stage, Pakistan crushed us out of nowhere by 6 wickets after Umar Gul (again) impressed with 3-0-6-5. Although the up-coming game against Sri Lanka will decide our fate, this loss to Pakistan may prove our downfall.
- 2011 - world cup:???
As we can see, for some reason, Pakistan has beaten New Zealand comfortably on several important occasions (not dissimilar to a certain French sports team) even when the Black Caps are in their best form. Naturally there are other teams such as Australia that have done the same but the fact that Pakistan was only a top cricket nation from 1987-1992 makes their victories more surprising.
If we look at Test matches we see a terrible record:
Played: 45
NZ victory: 6
PAK victory: 21
DRAW: 18
- From 1990-1994 Pakistan beat NZ 6 consecutive times
- Javed Miandad averaged 80 against NZ with 7 hundreds
- As recently as 2002 the Black Caps were clobbered by an innings and 300+ runs after Inzamam-ul-haq scored 329
The ODI record is worse:
Played: 78
NZ victory: 29
PAK victory: 47
The best sides and the best players have often used the New Zealand cricket team to improve their statistics but I fear that Pakistan manages to humiliate us too often.
Looking at the specific victories listed above, they are 'wicket' victories - perhaps we should be BOWLING first against our world cup nemesis
Well that's it from here and I hope to see you again
It's good bye for now
Why is it that Pakistan have had the wood on us so often? They're not a particularly good team, especially atm. Anything that stands out to you, oh wise one?
ReplyDeleteCricinfo shows that nz has a higher run rate outta the whole group so far thanks to their big win against ireland, it nz are to beat sri lanka and provided pakistan do the unthinkable and loose to ireland and shud secure them a semi final spot.
ReplyDelete- Dilly
How ever if pakistan are to beat ireland (which they probably will want 2 and not have another 2007 world cup repeat), nz shud bat 2nd against the lankans and then they can see wat total they need to get in how many ever overs in order to get a higher run rate that pakistan to put them thru to the semi's. Taylor shud play, even if he his half fit, nz need all they can really
ReplyDelete- Dilly
Im cluless as to why pakistan has the wood on the blackcaps, since the 1992 world cup, despite the skill level of both teams, it seems pakistan has a phycological edge of nz more than anything.
ReplyDelete- Dilly