New Zealand’s top order seemed to crumble before Pakistan’s bowlers as Shaheen Afridi took out Ross Taylor in the ninth over of the World Cup clash at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
New Zealand were 38 for 3.
This is Afridi’s second wicket of this match, who dismissed New Zealand opener Colin Munro two overs ago.
Haris Sohail successfully held on to the ball at first slip after Munro tried to drive a slightly wide delivery by Afridi.
New Zealand were 24 for the loss of two wickets in seven overs.
Pakistan got off to a good start after fast bowler Mohammad Amir bowled out New Zealand opener Martin Guptill in the second over.
It was the fast-bowler’s first ball of the match. The first over was bowled by all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez.
Kiwis were 22 for the loss of one wicket by the end of the fifth over. New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson joined opener Colin Munro after Guptill got out.
Toss and pre-match chatter
New Zealand had won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan in the high-stakes Cricket World Cup game at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Speaking after the toss, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said that he would have chosen to bat first as well, had he won the toss.
He admitted that “catching was still a concern but we work hard [to improve] it”.
“Hopefully we’ll do well as a fielding unit today,” he said.
When asked if Pakistan — who bounced back on Sunday after a demoralising defeat from India and kicked South Africa out of the tournament — could make it to the World Cup semifinals, Ahmed said: “Pakistan can do anything.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo as saying: “You turn up and know you’ll have a tough game, as Pakistan are a very tough side. For us, it’s trying to build on those performances and keep improving.”
New Zealand have the chance to follow Australia into the semifinals of the Cricket World Cup if they beat Pakistan in today’s match.
Pakistan are hoping for a repeat of 1992 when they beat New Zealand in the semi-final and went on to win the title. They can move one point behind fourth-place England with a win, and go level with Bangladesh, as the race for the finals spots unexpectedly opens up.
