67
PALLEKELE: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Wednesday urged his team to learn the lessons of the 110-run defeat against New Zealand.
The Black Caps rode on a brilliant unbeaten 131 by Ross Taylor to post a challenging 302-7 before Tim Southee removed the top order with a burst of three early wickets to bowl Pakistan out for 192.
“There were quite a few lessons to be learned from the defeat, especially those chances we gave to Taylor and when you give such chances to a player like him he makes you pay,” said Afridi.
Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal let Taylor off twice in the same Shoaib Akhtar over - once when the batsman was on nought and then on eight - allowing two straightforward chances to slip past him.
Afridi said his bowlers were poor in the death overs when New Zealand plundered 139 runs off the last 10 overs.
“I think the way we started with the ball was good, but then the missed chances maybe demoralised the bowlers and they were very poor in the end,” said Afridi.
Afridi hoped his top order batsmen will show improvement in the next game, against Zimbabwe on Monday.
“Our top order did not work well although we have given them the time to settle down and this was the first time we were chasing. We need to learn how to bat while chasing,” said Afridi.
“Taylor took the game away from us although the bowlers had reverse swing.
But the way he played was brilliant and he took the game away from us,” said the Pakistan captain.
Pakistan now have six points from four matches, second in Group A behind New Zealand who also have six points but a better net run-rate.
Co-hosts Sri Lanka (five points from four) and Australia (five from three) are third and fourth respectively.
Afridi hinted Kamran's younger brother, Umar can be handed the gloves, if needed.
“Keeping with Umar is very much an option and we might try it in the next game,” Afridi told GEO tv in Pakistan, of the same option which team used against South Africa in a one-dayer last year.
He also defended Kamran's hard work.
“If you see Kamran train, he puts in a lot of hard work. I don't know why luck deserted him. He is also upset about his performance and he realizes it too.”
