My News
09.05.10
World T20 Day 9
New Zealand v Pakistan
Both teams had lost their first game in the Super 8 stage of the tournament and had to win if they wanted to keep their hopes of a semi final birth alive.
The Kiwi’s batted first and got off to a flyer before losing 4 quick wickets to have them in a bit of trouble.
Dan the man, Vettori, and Billy Ray, Styris, then stabilised the innings and N. McCullum chimed in at the end to get them to a defendable total of 133. They had to bowl well though.
The Pakistani’s then came to the crease and imploded under the expectation of a win.
Salman Butt batted very well to keep his end safe and the scoreboard turning over but got little support until Razzaq joined him.
They took Pakistan to the brink of victory until Razzaq got out with 23 from 14 balls required. Some great bowling left them with 11 needed of the last over.
After fours to Butt on the 2nd and 4th balls of the final over, the chase was down to 3 off 2 balls. Whoever held their nerve still had a chance to get through to the semis.
Butler had bowled beautifully through the innings and again stepped up to deliver a great yorker and they decided to steal a single to the keeper. Why, I don't know.
I would have thought with Butt having already made 67 from 54 and seeing them very well, he would have been the guy best placed to face the last ball.
In the end, Rehman, who had 2 from 2, faced it and got caught off a ball that Butt would have smacked to the boundary.
The Kiwis now have to beat the Poms to ensure their spot whilst Pakistan has to beat South Africa convincingly and hope England win their last two games.
England v South Africa
After both teams won their first game in this stage of the tournament, whoever won this match would book their spot in the Semi Finals.
England batted first and went about setting South Africa a really big total. Nearly all their top order contributed and had them in a great position at 4/137 with 4 over to go, realistically looking at posting a total of over 180.
However, the South Africans hit back in the last 4 holding them to 168 and keeping themselves in the game.
Botha, maybe I should have played him more in the IPL, and Kallis were the stars with the ball and what is seeming a very rare occasion, Steyn went for quite a few.
When the SA’s came into bat, they knew they had to get going from the start but the English attack hunted as a pack and did not give them an inch.
In what was a big letdown, from a contest perspective, the Poms were all over them and crushed them.
It was a great performance.
England are now safely through and SA have to beat Pakistan to get through due to their NRR being smashed.
It was the perfect result for Pakistan to keep their hopes alive.
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