BASIN RESERVE, WELLINGTON–January 21, 2016: After two days of intense training, with the T20I decider tomorrow evening (match commences at seven in the evening here Friday at Westpac Stadium – known in popular parlance here as ‘Cake Tin’ due to its unique structure) in view, Head Coach Waqar Younis eased the press on the accelerator a touch.
But the entire squad seemed to be fit and eager, which was reflected in a spirited game of soccer that set things rolling in the morning, followed by a longish fielding regimen, with none amongst the batsmen missing out on the optional stint at the nets.
Prior to this, Team Pakistan have never stepped in to the Westpac Stadium for a T20I. The venue though has been anything but a happy hunting ground for them, as they have lost three out of the four one-day internationals here, their lone success having come at this venue as far back as in 2001.
Even so, if there is any team that can perform against the odds and upset the best laid plans of spectacularly resurgent Black Caps, it is Pakistan.
So, a backlash in the aftermath of the disappointing show at Hamilton and the prospect of clinching the series here should in no case be ruled out.
Only once before have Pakistan played a three-match T20I rubber decider level at 1-1 – against England at Abu Dhabi in 2012, which the green shirts failed to put away. Though Pakistan’s success in the limited-overs matches with series at stake is not impressive, yet they seemed quite determined to go out with all guns blazing.
The Pakistan bowlers collectively had nothing much to write home about from the game in Hamilton, for all of them went wicket-less and in the bargain were made to look ordinary by Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson – the Black Caps opening duo in the process stitching together a world record 171-run stand.
Pakistan however can draw comfort from the innings played by Umar Akmal, a brisk 50 off just 22 deliveries, the second fastest by a Pakistani batsman in T20Is. The fastest, off 21 balls, against Australia at Edgbaston in 2010, also belongs to Akmal. Pakistan’s top order need to a take cue from Akmal and should look to increase their scoring rate when they take guard at the Westpac Stadium.
Pakistan scored 108 off the last 10 overs in Hamilton but managed just 60 of a similar number of deliveries up-front. With little more intent in the first half of the innings, the Black Caps may have been staring at something close to 200. The order of the day from the head coach and skipper to the top order batsmen is likely to read: display greater impetus to hand the middle-and-lower-order freedom to explode.
The Westpac Stadium dimensions are said to have larger boundaries and aren’t as batting friendly as the other New Zealand venues – good news for the bowling machine in green.
