New Zealand survive shock to take series

It ended as a thriller that was never meant to be. Pakistan's batting--tumultous in recent months, from eyecatching peaks to jaw-dropping troughs--rode yet another tempest to emerge second-best in a tight contest against New Zealand. In a match where momentum shifted with startling regularity, Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal restricted New Zealand to a mediocre 211 before his side collapsed to 101 for 9 in response. And then, as if that were not good enough, Ajmal teamed up with fellow tailender Mohammad Aamer to post an astonishing 103 in sixteen overs and take the match to the last over.

It was the second-highest stand ever for the last wicket--short just of Viv Richard's one-man demolition effort at Manchester in 1984--and Aamer's valiant unbeaten 73 was easily the highest score by a number 10 in one-day internationals. But their marvellous effort, in the end, only saved the face of a disorganized Pakistan lineup that imploded spectacularly when it mattered most.

Khalid Latif, who eased three consecutive fours off Kyle Mills, had started Pakistan's reply on a confident note, adding 47 in 50 balls with Salman Butt. But, as has happened so often, the wily veteran Daniel Vettori's introduction brought a dramatic turnabout. He trapped Latif with a signature arm-ball, and panic set in. Underperforming skipper Younus Khan entered, ran Butt out with a poor call, and promptly edged his next delivery from Shane Bond to slip (51 for 3). Intelligent acculumation was the obvious order of the day, but commonsense is not a virtue gifted to most Pakistani batsmen; the middle order succumbed to some probing bowling from Tim Southee and Jacob Oram and threw away their wickets to ugly heaves; from 47 for no loss they had lost eight wickets for just 39 runs, and New Zealand could taste a rare middle eastern win.

They had yet to contend with Aamer, who showed outstanding maturity and composure for a 17-year-old. With Umar Gul, who crawled to 6 off 37 balls, he added 15 in ten overs, and when Ajmal entered the scene Pakistan needed 110 in sixteen overs. The match seemed over as a contest, until Aamer yanked it back with stirring audacity. He launched into Vettori's ninth over, sweeping him into the stands for three sixes, and announced himself as a genuine threat with some blistering shots down the ground.

What had appeared to be a cakewalk became for New Zealand a rollercoasting battle to stay alive; Aamer walloped Mills over point to reach his fifty, and the coolheaded Ajmal got into the act, lofting Southee straight over mid-on. There were some scares--Oram, who finished with 3 for 20, was particularly incisive--but come the last over and Pakistan needed just eight. The onslaught didn't last, however, as Ajmal (33 off 44 balls) top-edged a pull, but New Zealand had had their spine well and truly chilled for the win.

The pattern of volatility had begun with New Zealand's innings; they had roared away to 65 for nought in the first ten overs before the spinners set in. Brendon McCullum was at it again; having seen the shine off the new ball, he proceeded to thump the bowling with glee. Umar Gul was driven flat over mid-off for six, and a savage pulled six was followed by a third, sent over square leg. McCullum was seeing it like a football, and Aaron Redmond, though streakier, contributed 21 to the stand.

The introduction of Ajmal changed things; he bogged down Martin Guptill in the powerplay before removing him for just 8. Even McCullum, whose fifty came off 47 balls, had trouble scoring off the spinners; he fell for 76, popping a leading edge back to Shoaib Malik. Ross Taylor, evidently keen to get scoring in the series, plodded to 44, but when Ajmal trapped him in front of leg-stump, things went rapidly pear-shaped. The last six wickets tumbled for just 25, Ajmal earning a miserly 4 for 33, and Aamer cashing in as well. It was, however, for their courage with the bat that this match will be remembered.