Black Caps teetering on the brink

BY JONATHAN MILLMOW

New Zealand have a mountain to climb to stay in the Twenty20 World Cup after being crushed by Pakistan at The Oval.

Such was the manner of the loss in London yesterday, New Zealand have effectively taken themselves out of the tournament unless they can inflict a heavy defeat on Sri Lanka on Wednesday morning (NZ time) or Ireland upsets Sri Lanka overnight or Pakistan tomorrow.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will have run-rates on their minds over the next two days meaning New Zealand will go into the final match against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge probably requiring something ridiculous like a win with four or five overs to spare.

Captain Daniel Vettori admits beating Sri Lanka is tough enough without needing to worry about creaming them.

"It is going to be a tough game, particularly with our run rate taking a hit today," Vettori told reporters in England.

"Sri Lanka, along with South Africa, are probably favourites for the tournament the way they are playing.

"We've got to step up and hopefully Sri Lanka are already through to the Super Eight so they might rest some players or take their foot off a little bit. Having said that they are not a team that does that.

"It is our biggest game of the tournament and if we are going to go anywhere in this tournament we have to win it and if we don't we have only beaten Ireland and Scotland and it would've been a disappointing tournament."

New Zealand's campaign has been ruined by injury but it is still hard to defend being dismissed for 99 on a belter.

Vettori was back yesterday and even though he bowled masterfully the horse had bolted. Chasing just 100 to win, Pakistan strolled home with six wickets and 41 balls to spare.

"It was a good wicket, there were plenty of runs in it," said Vettori. "We needed at least 180 to compete, but there just were not enough runs on the board."

Vettori did not criticise his batsmen even though Peter McGlashan took a dumb option and Jacob Oram's horror run continued.

"Twenty20 is about taking risks and sometimes you meet an opposition that is bowling exceptionally well and it doesn't quite come off.

"You have to take risks otherwise you will come off with 120. We knew we had to take risks, we knew we needed around 180 to compete and today wasn't our day."

Vettori indicated Ross Taylor would be pressed into action against Sri Lanka despite recently straining his hamstring.

There were also a couple of injury scares yesterday, Aaron Redmond clutching at his hamstring early in his innings and Brendon McCullum finishing the game holding his wrist/hand after falling heavily attempting a catch.

On a brighter note, Vettori's left shoulder did not appear to unduly trouble him.

"I haven't caught up with [McCullum] yet, but knowing our luck at the moment it'll probably be something serious," Vettori said.

"I got through the game fine and I'm confident of playing [Sri Lanka] and we're very hopeful Ross Taylor can get up because we know how big a game it is, and how important a player he is.

"The next couple of days are going to be big for us to try to get him fit, and if we get him into our team then it boosts us a lot."

The star of the show yesterday was Pakistan's Umar Gul, who became the first bowler to take five wickets in a Twenty20 international when he captured 5-6 in 18 balls. Gul was introduced in the 13th over and within a couple of deliveries had the relatively new and hard ball reverse swinging.

"I've never ever seen someone reverse the ball after 12 overs," Vettori said. "Obviously he bowled really well. He got the ball to reverse and I don't think in the history of Twenty20 cricket anyone has got the ball to reverse."

- © Fairfax NZ News