Misbah guides Pakistan to tight win over NZ

[Faraz Sheikh]

NAPIER: Misbah-ul-haq overcame the loss of late wickets to keep his cool and guide Pakistan to a two-wicket victory over New Zealand in their fourth one-day international match in Napier on Tuesday.

Misbah, who has anchored Pakistan's batting throughout the tour of New Zealand, proved once again a thorn in the side of Daniel Vettori's team, scoring 93 not out as Pakistan finished on 264 for eight in 49 overs having chased down the host's 262 for seven.

The Pakistan test captain, who had been coasting to the victory target while batting with Younus Khan (42), was forced to take all the responsibility of getting his side home when Younus was run out in the 38th over.

Umar Akmal then scratched around for 10 off 17 balls before he was well caught in the 43rd over by Nathan McCullum off Vettori, who trapped Shahid Afridi in front two balls later to give New Zealand a faint hope of running through the bowlers to win the match and take a 2-1 lead in the best of six series.

Misbah, however, and Abdul Razzaq (23) managed to keep pace with the required run rate and while Razzaq was well caught by a hobbling Vettori, Misbah smashed 10 runs off two balls from Scott Styris and Sohail Tanvir (14) hit three boundaries off Tim Southee the next over to see their side home.

Late call-up James Franklin had proved the saviour of New Zealand's innings, which was about 30 runs short of a par total on a good batting wicket with short square boundaries.

Franklin was only brought into the side after Jesse Ryder, who injured a finger while playing for Wellington at the weekend, withdrew before play began.

The left-hander, who had scores of 72 not out, 98 not out and 17 not out in his previous three innings in India last December, top-scored with 62 to help arrest New Zealand's mid-innings slump.

The hosts had romped to 40 without loss but lost three wickets for four runs and then slumped to 79 for five before Franklin's 62-run partnership with Brendon McCullum (37) and a stand of 64 runs with Nathan McCullum (53 not out) halted the slide.

 

[Super Falcon]

I was a big enemy of misbah becoz of his inconisistancy in the game so many starts and nothing he did for the team he always baan heroic in middle but at the end of the day he was villan to pakistan in last stages of matches which were so crucial no doubt he has talent but he must polich it again and agian its not over for him he still has to do more more better and keep improving his game and salut to him after these all knocks in NZ hope he will have same consistancy in whole WC for pakistan and also hope against INDIA which he did the mistake this time against india he can become hero for pakistan specially in batting he plays spin better than anyone in the game and incdian team is full of spinners hope he do well in crucial matches and all players of pakistan if one fails other should take his hand up thats the way cricket should be played it is not every game you score runs and not every game you faills but combine as a team and enjoy each other succes what makes world champs. still message to misbah concentrate on batting and team work forget captaincy if you win us WC with your batting you will get respect and for all other too and ahmed shehzad is a jewel in cap for pakistan hope in special matches he plays as he plays hitting the bowl all around with this even if we loose wickets and in middle we get bock down we can still manage 250 every game with Razaque and afridi hope for best this is good team combination but still hoped that MY should have been in the team it will gave us more options if YK or misbah get out of touch some one is on the bench to take their place