Pakistan look to maintain top spot in Group A

Tags: World Cup 2011, New Zealand v Pakistan 24th Match at Pallekele - Mar 8,2011, Pakistan

Published on: Mar 08, 2011

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Two teams have played a lot of cricket with each other and either side should be familiar with strengths and weaknesses of other. But Tuesday fixture in Sri Lanka will be altogether a different affair with so much to play for.

Two teams have played a lot of cricket with each other and either side should be familiar with strengths and weaknesses of other. But Tuesday fixture in Sri Lanka will be altogether a different affair with so much to play for. It was during the New Zealand tour before the world cup where Pakistan’s resurgence started and have emerged as a force in the tournament to reckon with. So much so, they top the group A points table with three wins in as many matches including victory against Sri Lanka. Pakistan, however, survived Canada scare thanks to five wicket haul of their captain to help his side to defend a low target of 184 runs.

New Zealandhave been anything but consistent in the tournament. They blew away Kenya in first match and were treated with same medicine by Aussie pace battery but came back well to rout Zimbabwe by ten wickets. After being beaten in test and ODI series by Pakistan recently, Kiwis should know that beating this Pakistan side isn’t an easy affair. For that to happen, they need to bring consistency to their game as they look to qualify for the knock out stages. Pakistan have made it clear that they want to top the group A table to avoid playing against a bigger team in quarter-final that would motivate them to put in extra on field in this game. Both teams have a common forte-unpredictably. They can rout any side on their day but same can be done to them if they are switched off.

Playing all of its games in Sri Lanka, thus, familiar with conditions and kind of a team composition they have, Pakistan should start as favourites for this encounter. Weathermen have predict ted clear skies on Tuesday with temperature in early 30’s degree Celsius which is a good news after big game between Sri Lanka and Australia was abandoned due to heavy rains. The pitch is expected to be full of runs and will offer some help to fast bowlers early in the innings and get slower in the later stages of the game.

If we minus skipper, Shahid Afridi from current Pakistan team, it would make this side an ordinary one. All three Pakistan victories have been inspired by Afridi taking wickets when his team has needed them the most as he leads the bowling charts with 14 scalps. Opening partnership of Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmad Shahzad has come under a lot of flak as both have failed in all three matches to post a substantial score. They have deprived their team from a decent start in what have turned out to be testing conditions for the duo.

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