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Pakistan vs. Kiwis-or minnows? Geoffrey Boycott believes that the present Pakistan team can beat New Zealand 18 times out of 20. Sunil Gavaskar thinks Pakistan is the most balanced outfit in the competition, their only weak link their fielding, despite the presence of some agile youngsters in the squad. The man on the street will back a Pakistan win without hesitation in the first of the semifinals of the ICC knockout tournament now in progress in Nairobi. Indeed, on available data, that seems the only rational result possible in Wednesday's semifinal. What does New Zealand need to do to defy the odds and spring a surprise at this stage of the tournament? Is it a huge total in the region of 280 that can put pressure on the best batting side in the world? Or a devastating bowling and fielding performance which will set them an easy target to chase? Now, let's look at the cast of characters at New Zealand's command that can enact one of these two scripts. To pile up a match winning total, all or most of these batsmen will have to score big, at a fair pace: Spearman, Astle, Fleming, Twose, McMillan and Chris Cairns. There will have to be a superhuman effort from one or more of these. Recent history however does not indicate the probability such a concatenation of circumstances. The one man who can play that kind of innings, Chris Cairns is rather rusty from a recent layoff. Among the bowlers, is there a match winner who can help skittle Pakistan out for a poor total? That seems a tall order in the present situation. It is in fielding that New Zealand can claim clear superiority. A standout performance in the field, the chance to bowl first on a fresh wicket and early wickets could combine to give them an early advantage. But then, with a side as focused as Pakistan today, only a horrendous off day is likely to result in their defeat in this encounter. Stranger things have happened in cricket. |
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