CT Semi Final 2: New Zealand, Elliot Score Past Pakistan

Pakistan’s varied attack could do nothing against the determined New Zealand that despite the fragility of their situation, made it across the line to break years’ old jinx.
Despite Pakistan’s false start of forty-six for no less, Pakistan found themselves grounded against a disciplined performance from the New Zealand bowlers, after Shane Bond, Ian Butler and New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, got into the act.
Pakistan were struggling at four for eighty-six in twenty-one overs, Pakistan captain, Younis Khan, being the latest to join the sorry lot back at the pavilion. It took another extraordinary effort from Umar Akmal before Pakistan found their feet again. Akmal’s fifty-five and Mohammad Yousuf’s forty-five runs proved pivotal in holding up the seeming downward spiral for Pakistan. Some late order lusty hitting from seventeen year old bowling sensation, Mohammad Aamer, and Saeed Ajmal got Pakistan to 233, when they appeared to be struggling to put up a competitive total.
For New Zealand, it was really a lot more runs than they would have liked to concede, given that they had Pakistan eating out of their hands for the first half of the match anyway.
Losing Brendon McCullum can hurt, especially when he looked good for the taking. Then Martin Guptill departed even as New Zealand looked good for the chase. Aaron Redmond’s thirty-one runs looked promising, until the fall of his wicket signalled New Zealand’s score card has become three down for seventy-one in the seventeenth over, even though the target was a comfortable number in terms of run rate for New Zealand, looking to break their semi final jinx in ICC tournaments and against Pakistan.
Ross Taylor’s departure for thirty-eight runs with the score on 129 in the thirtieth over could have signalled another New Zealand effort turned to dust. But the South African connection in the New Zealand dressing room was not about to let it wither.
There was doubt about Grant Elliot being able to play the match and Scott Styris was on stand by. Already New Zealand had to recall Iain O’Brien for Daryll Tuffey. But Elliot’s decision to play proved crucial as the story would unfold.
Elliot’s partnership with Vettori was the one that sealed the deal for New Zealand. But it was not easy. Pakistan tightened the strings, snuffing out the margin between balls and runs to a point where New Zealand needed seven runs an over to get past the line. But the duo built a quietly determined partnership and then, latched onto any misgivings on Pakistan’s part. Rana Naved ul Hasan inadvertently helped New Zealand up their chances again, as did Pakistan captain, Younis Khan, who dropped Elliot that could have potentially given Pakistan a fair chance for victory.
Vettori was eventually stumped for forty-one off Saeed Ajmal but by then, New Zealand needed just four runs, which they did in the forty-eighth over, thanks largely to Elliot’s seventy-five unbeaten knock.
New Zealand now have a date with their Trans Tasmanian rivals, Australia, for the ICC Champions Trophy final crown.