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| October 28, 2006 | Saturday | Shawwal 4, 1427 |
Inspired New Zealand first to reach last four
MOHALI, Oct 27: Stephen Fleming's New Zealand became the first team to reach the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy with a 51-run win over Pakistan here on Wednesday.
The Black Caps, playing their 500th one-dayer and clearly inspired by Fleming's world record 194th match as captain, bowled out Pakistan for 223 after piling up 274-7 in the day-night international.
Fleming, who overtook Sri Lankan Arjuna Ranatunga's tally of 193 one-dayers as captain, led from the front with 80 and Scott Styris hit a fluent 86 after New Zealand were given first strike.
The Kiwis overcame a wet outfield, caused by late-evening dew that made it difficult to grip the ball, to beat back Pakistan's challenge under lights at the Punjab Cricket Association ground.
“I could not have asked for more,” said the 33-year-old Fleming, who was named Man-of-the-Match in his landmark game.
“We had good runs on the board but it was the way we bowled that was the key. Bond struck when it mattered most and the others also did their bit.
“We can now sit back and watch the others trying to get where we already are. It's a good feeling.”
The 33-year-old Fleming opened the batting and stood his ground until the 38th over to steady the faltering innings.
The Black Caps were reduced to 23-2 before being rescued by a fourth-wicket stand of 108 between Fleming and Styris.
Styris, who needed a runner in the latter part of his innings due to a back strain, smashed 10 boundaries to lead a late batting assault.
Jacob Oram slammed 31 off 26 balls as New Zealand plundered 99 runs in the last 10 overs.
Mohammad Yousuf (71) and Shoaib Malik (52) put on 94 for the fifth wicket to resurrect Pakistan's hopes after the top four batsmen had fallen by the 17th over with just 83 runs on the board.
Pakistan moved to a healthy 177-4 in the 37th over, needing 98 more from 82 balls, when pace spearhead Shane Bond swung the match New Zealand's way in his second spell.
Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer said his team made too many mistakes.
“Conceding 99 runs in the last 10 overs set us back in the field and the loss of early wickets made it more difficult,” he said.
Bond had Yousuf caught at cover by Fleming with his third delivery and then removed the dangerous Abdul Razzaq two overs later, hooking a catch to fine-leg after making six.
Bond finished with three for 45 from 10 overs while Kyle Mills and Oram picked up two wickets each.
Scoreboard
NEW ZEALAND:
L. Vincent b Umar Gul 3
S.P. Fleming c and b Shoaib 80
N.J. Astle c Younis b Naved 15
P.G. Fulton lbw b Rao Iftikhar 7
S.B. Styris c Rao Iftikhar b Umar Gul 86
J.D.P. Oram c Umar Gul b Razzaq 31
B.B. McCullum c Shoaib b Razzaq 27
J.E.C. Franklin not out 9
D.L. Vettori not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-8, W-7, NB-1) 16
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 274
FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-23, 3-60, 4-168, 5-220, 6-254, 7-270.
BOWLING: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 8-0-44-1 (1nb, 1w); Umar Gul 9-1-47-2 (3w); Rao Iftikhar 8-2-41-1; Abdul Razzaq 10-1-60-2 (1w); Shahid Afridi 10-0-49-0; Shoaib Malik 5-0-25-1 (2w).
PAKISTAN:
Mohammad Hafeez c McCullum b Oram 43
Imran Farhat c Mills b Bond 6
Younis Khan c Vincent b Mills 2
Mohammad Yousuf c Fleming b Bond 71
Shahid Afridi c Bond b Oram 4
Shoaib Malik c Astle b Vettori 52
Abdul Razzaq c Franklin b Bond 6
Kamran Akmal c Fleming b Mills 16
Rana Naved c McCullum b Franklin 1
Umar Gul run out 8
Rao Iftikhar not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-5, W-5, NB-4) 14
TOTAL (all out, 46.3 overs) 223
FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-45, 3-65, 4-83, 5-177, 6-195, 7-202, 8-205, 9-223.
BOWLING: Mills 7.3-1-38-2 (2nb); Bond 10-0-45-3 (1nb, 3w); Franklin 9-0-47-1 (1nb, 2w); Oram 8-1-25-2; Vettori 10-0-52-1; Astle 2-0-11-0.
RESULT: New Zealand won by 51 runs.
UMPIRES: M.R. Benson (England) and R.E. Koertzen (South Africa).
TV UMPIRE: B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).
MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Stephen Fleming.—AFP
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