McCullum fifty steers New Zealand
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Brendon McCullum paced his innings superbly to lead New Zealand to 135 for 2 by the half-way mark in the series decider against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, according to website cricinfo.
For some time now, New Zealand have fretted about McCullum's inconsistency. He would get starts but rarely convert it into something meaningful and there was confusion over his approach: Should he try attacking all the time or try to pace his innings better? His century in the last game, especially the manner in which it was accumulated, and the way he batted today, would warm the hearts of his fans.
McCullum started slowly, getting his eye in, and reached 8 off 21 balls before he played a shot in anger. He walked down the track towards the off side and pulled a short delivery to the square-leg boundary. It's something he has used in the past to upset the rhythm of the bowlers and he successfully deployed it today. His forward press induced the bowlers to commit the mistake of bowling short on a good batting track and McCullum unfurled his pulls to great effect. Sixes flew over square-leg and when Umar Gul tried a slower one, it was lofted over long-on.
Younis Khan realised spin could be the only effective weapon in his arsenal and introduced Saeed Ajmal in the 13th over and he immediately slowed things down with his mixture of offbreaks and doosras. However, Younis didn't opt for a double-spin attack, preferring to hold back Shahid Afridi till the 20th over and New Zealand prospered. McCullum and Co. respected Ajmal and attacked the seamer operating at the other end. Abdul Razzaq, who also bowled short against McCullum, was pulled for boundaries and Gul continued to leak runs.
Ajmal, though, bowled well and picked up the wicket of Martin Guptill with a doosra. Younis finally deployed spin from both ends, bringing Afridi and Shoaib Malik into the attack, and the scoring-rate slowed down a touch. However, New Zealand still held the advantage with the inform McCullum and Ross Taylor in the middle.
New Zealand innings:
BB McCullum c & b Shoaib Malik 76
AJ Redmond c M Aamer b Umar Gul 21
MJ Guptill c Younis b Saeed Ajmal 8
LRPL Taylor lbw b Saeed Ajmal 44
SB Styris run out (Salman Butt) 14
DL Vettori not out 13
NT Broom not out 0
Extras: (lb 6, w 5) 11
Total: (5 wickets; 38.4 overs) 187
Latest: 211 for all 46.3 overs
For some time now, New Zealand have fretted about McCullum's inconsistency. He would get starts but rarely convert it into something meaningful and there was confusion over his approach: Should he try attacking all the time or try to pace his innings better? His century in the last game, especially the manner in which it was accumulated, and the way he batted today, would warm the hearts of his fans.
McCullum started slowly, getting his eye in, and reached 8 off 21 balls before he played a shot in anger. He walked down the track towards the off side and pulled a short delivery to the square-leg boundary. It's something he has used in the past to upset the rhythm of the bowlers and he successfully deployed it today. His forward press induced the bowlers to commit the mistake of bowling short on a good batting track and McCullum unfurled his pulls to great effect. Sixes flew over square-leg and when Umar Gul tried a slower one, it was lofted over long-on.
Younis Khan realised spin could be the only effective weapon in his arsenal and introduced Saeed Ajmal in the 13th over and he immediately slowed things down with his mixture of offbreaks and doosras. However, Younis didn't opt for a double-spin attack, preferring to hold back Shahid Afridi till the 20th over and New Zealand prospered. McCullum and Co. respected Ajmal and attacked the seamer operating at the other end. Abdul Razzaq, who also bowled short against McCullum, was pulled for boundaries and Gul continued to leak runs.
Ajmal, though, bowled well and picked up the wicket of Martin Guptill with a doosra. Younis finally deployed spin from both ends, bringing Afridi and Shoaib Malik into the attack, and the scoring-rate slowed down a touch. However, New Zealand still held the advantage with the inform McCullum and Ross Taylor in the middle.
New Zealand innings:
BB McCullum c & b Shoaib Malik 76
AJ Redmond c M Aamer b Umar Gul 21
MJ Guptill c Younis b Saeed Ajmal 8
LRPL Taylor lbw b Saeed Ajmal 44
SB Styris run out (Salman Butt) 14
DL Vettori not out 13
NT Broom not out 0
Extras: (lb 6, w 5) 11
Total: (5 wickets; 38.4 overs) 187
Latest: 211 for all 46.3 overs