PALLEKELE – Skipper Daniel Vettori said Monday that New Zealand would focus on their own game and not worry about formidable Pakistan in their World Cup match on Tuesday. Pakistan, inspired by captain Shahid Afridi, who has taken a tournament-best 14 wickets with his leg-spin, have won all three matches and top Group A with six points. New Zealand, who beat Kenya and Zimbabwe by ten wickets apiece but lost to Australia by seven wickets, have four points from three matches.
“The game, like against most teams, is about yourself and trying to work out how you could actually get the best performance out of yourself because that’s pretty much where we have let ourselves down in the past,” said Vettori.
The captain, whose side lost a home one-day series to Pakistan that ended only last month, said he was aiming for consistency.
“We have not been able to put that consistent team performance together, so that’s what we are asking,” said Vettori, whose team were whitewashed in one-day series against Bangladesh and India last year. “If we can get right in ourselves then we have more of a chance than if we worry about Pakistan,” said Vettori, whose country has lost six of seven World Cup matches against their opponents.
The pitch at the Pallekele stadium is an unknown for both teams but Vettori expects a batsman-friendly surface. “I think we are expecting it to be a little bit quicker than most grounds but still it will be a batter-friendly wicket,” said Vettori, whose openers are in top form.
Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum hit unbeaten half-centuries in New Zealand’s win over Zimbabwe on Friday. Vettori said the teams knew each other well due to their recent clashes.
“We are fortunate that we played a lot against them lately so we are pretty familiar but they are pretty familiar with us so it’s going to be a tough game but hopefully there is some confidence from the Zimbabwe game,” said Vettori. And the New Zealand captain said he hoped key batsman Ross Taylor would fire. “I think your best players are the ones who win the World Cup and Ross is obviously one of our very good players. He has high expectations from himself and he wants to perform,” said Vettori. “I expect him at one stage in this tournament to win a game for us and hopefully it’s tomorrow.”
