COMMENT – Pakistan is the only team which has beaten New Zealand at Queenstown Events Centre where the second match of the six-one day match series will be played on Wednesday (January 26).
Pakistan recorded a six-wicket win over New Zealand when two teams met the only time at this ground on January 7, 2004. New Zealand’s performance failed to match the ground’s stunning setting. They lost Craig Cumming early, and spent the first half of the innings stumbling along. After 30 overs, they were 104 for five, and only a dogged 91-run stand between Jacob Oram (54) and Brendon McCullum (56 not out) allowed a respectable total of 235 for eight in 50 overs.
Pakistan also lost an early wicket, but Imran Farhat (87) began flowing into his strokes, even though the pitch still helped the seamers. The best of the Pakistan batting came when Mohammed Yousuf (88 not out) joined him in a classical exhibition of nifty scoring through clever running and deft placements: had they cared to hurry, Pakistan would have won long before the 47th over.
New Zealand have won five, lost one and abandoned one in seven one-day internationals at this ground. The last match played here between New Zealand and West Indies on December 31,2008 was washed out. The two and-a-half hours’ play was possible before heavy rain arrived.
