By SS
January 8 2004

Pakistan claimed a comfortable win in game 2 of the 5 match series. Although New Zealand led by Oram and McCullum put up a competitive total, Imran Farhat and Yousuf Youhana shared the matchwinning partnership to guide Pakistan home. It is all square after two matches in the closely fought one day series in New Zealand. After throwing away the first match to a Scott Styris led Kiwi team, Pakistan bounced back in emphatic style by comfortably beating New Zealand by 6 wickets. The manner of the victory in the second

The death bowling, so often a strong point for the Pakistani bowlers has let them down so far in both matches with Sami, Shabbir and Azhar all guilty of bowling the wrong length and not mixing up their deliveries enough. Shoaib Akhtar seems to have been missed more in the latter overs rather than at the start of the innings, where his yorkers could have restricted the Kiwis and perhaps swung the first match in Pakistans favour.

Inzamam seems to have adopted the rather rigid “I will do it my way” method to captaincy and nothing will distract him from this. It does not matter who the batsman is, how many wickets are down, how tired the bowler is, Inzi will stick to his pre-match gameplan. This, together with Pakistan only going into both matches with 5 front line bowlers, is very risky cricket indeed and could prove to be costly. Inzamam, at a very early stage in his tenure as captain has already displayed a certain naivety, a rather defensive approach and a lack of innovation. He needs to improve his methods as captain, if Pakistan are to continue their recent progression.

With the impetus with Pakistan and the possibility of Shoaib Akhtar returning to action in match 3 of the 5 match series, things are looking quite bright for Pakistan. The New Zealand team however are struggling with their top order and it will be interesting to see in the next few matches if they juggle their batting order around with perhaps Oram and McCullum given an opportunity higher up the order. Stephen Fleming has been a major disappointment in the 2 one dayers with his dismissal in both matches being crucial to the Kiwis batting woes and the methods of dismissal have been less than responsible for one so experienced.

Yasir Hameed has not delivered yet in the one day series and will be keen to get amongst the runs soon. Yasirs shot selection has been poor to say the least and a lack of patience has caused this rather reckless approach. Yasir no doubt under the guidance of messrs Javed Miandad, Inzamam Ul Haq and Haroon Rashid will be working on his one day approach and it still remains uncertain whether he will remain as the opening partner for the brilliant to watch Imran Farhat.

Match 3 starts at 23.00 GMT from Christchurch and will obviously be a crucial encounter, with the loser of this match facing the added pressure of having to win both remaining matches to win the series.