New Zealand have only themselves to blame for the position they find themselves in.
New Zealand did themselves no favours in the first ODI, giving away a heartbreaking 100 runs in the final go after strangling Pakistan’s batting for the better part of the match. And they paid for it, chasing 287 as they lost by 138 runs in the first ODI at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Apart from Aaron Redmond’s half century, New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori’s thirty-eight and Brendon McCullum’s twenty-one, New Zealand had nothing to show for their batting after their bowlers turned from heroes to villians as Shahid Afridi, Khaled Latif and Umar Akmal capitalized.
It will not be any easier for New Zealand in the second match given that all the Pakistan bowlers have appeared in fine form and any weaknesses in Pakistan’s batting would now be overshadowed by their ability to notch up such huge scores despite them.
Practice match or not, New Zealand’s excuses will not get them to prevent a Pakistan rout. All they can do is do the right things, start well like they did in the first ODI but sustain it right through the game if they are to deny Pakistan a Cool and Cool series win!
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