McCullum, Styris star as New Zealand level series

by Shahid HASHMI

CRICKET: ABU DHABI, Nov 7, 2009 - Brendon McCullum hit a return-to-form hundred and Scott Styris took three wickets in two overs as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs in the second day-night international here on Friday.

McCullum notched 131 to help the Black Caps post a challenging 303-8 on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch before Styris (3-23) triggered a middle-order collapse which saw Pakistan bowled out for 239, leaving the three-match series level at 1-1.

Pakistan won the first match by 138 runs on Tuesday. The final match will be played here on Monday.

Chasing a daunting target, Pakistan got off to a solid start of 77 with Khalid Latif (45) and Salman Butt (59) setting the tempo. Even after Latif fell leg-before to New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori in the 17th over, Pakistan were well on course.

Butt and Younus (19) added another 47 for the second wicket before Styris struck three times in ten balls to turn the match in his team’s favour.

Bowling for the first time in 13 months, Styris had Younus smartly caught at short mid-wicket by a diving Ross Taylor and then next ball induced Shahid Afridi (0) to play into the same fielder’s hands.

In his next over, Styris had Kamran Akmal (four) caught at short cover before Butt was run out after being sent back by Mohammad Yousuf.

Vettori then trapped Yousuf (18) to push Pakistan to the brink of defeat.

Although Shoaib Malik (26) and Abdul Razzaq (35) resisted, it was too little too late against a professional New Zealand.

Earlier, New Zealand had McCullum to thank for repairing the innings through a second wicket stand of 126 with Martin Guptill (62).

Vettori praised his team’s character.

“We talked about some key things after the first match and came out and did them perfectly,” said Vettori.

“McCullum and Martin Guptill put on a very good partnership and we bowled well.”

Pakistan captain Younus termed the McCullum-Guptill partnership as the key for New Zealand.

“Actually they had a good partnership and when we batted we lost crucial wickets, especially to Styris,” said Younus. “McCullum was superb today.”

Stripped of the vice-captaincy to allow him to concentrate on batting last month, McCullum steadied the innings, driving and cutting with authority during his 129-ball knock. He hit 14 boundaries and three sixes.

Guptill hit five boundaries and two sixes during his 70-ball knock before holing out to paceman Razzaq.

McCullum also added 44 for the fifth wicket with Vettori (30) before Razzaq returned for his second spell to have the New Zealand captain caught behind off a miscued hit.

McCullum reached the three-figure mark off 108 deliveries. He was finally dismissed in the 47th over, bowled off an inside edge by paceman Umar Gul.

He also added 56 for the seventh wicket with Jacob Oram who made 33 not out.

Pakistan brought back Malik after resting him in the first match, while New Zealand included fit-again Kyle Mills and Neil Broom.

	NEW ZEALAND

B. McCullum b Gul 		131
A. Redmond c Younus b Aamir 	 06
M. Guptill c Aamir b Razzaq 	 62
R. Taylor b Afridi 		 00
S. Styris run out 		 09
D. Vettori c Kamran b Razzaq 	 30
N. Broom lbw b Afridi 		 00
J. Oram not out 		 33
K. Mills c Latif b Gul 		 04
S. Bond not out 		 10
Extras (b1, lb11, nb3, w3) 	 18
TOTAL (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 	303

DID NOT BAT: T. Southee. 

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-21 (Redmond), 2-147 (Guptill), 3-147 (Taylor), 4-160 
		(Styris), 5-214 (Vettori), 6-218 (Broom), 7-274 (McCullum), 8-287 
		(Mills).

BOWLING: Aamir 10-0-64-1 (3nb, 1w), Gul 10-0-59-2, Razzaq 10-0-60-2, 
		Ajmal 10-0-59-0 (1w), Afridi 10-0-49-2 (1w).
		PAKISTAN

Salman Butt run out 			 59
Khalid Latif lbw b Vettori 		 45
Younus Khan c Taylor b Styris 		 19
Shahid Afridi c Taylor b Styris 	 00
Kamran Akmal c Guptill b Styris 	 04
Mohammad Yousuf lbw b Vettori 		 18
Shoaib Malik c Southee b Mills 		 26
Abdul Razzaq c Guptill b Southee 	 35
Umar Gul c Oram b Mills 		 04
Mohammad Aamir c Guptill b Bond 	 12
Saeed Ajmal not out 			 03
Extras (b2, lb3, nb1, w8) 		 14
TOTAL (all out, 47.2 overs) 		239


FALL OF WICKETS: 1-77 (Latif), 2-124 (Younus), 3-125 (Afridi), 4-133 (Kamran),
		 5-134 (Butt), 6-158 (Yousuf), 7-194 (Malik), 8-209 (Gul), 9-231 (Razzaq).

BOWLING: Mills 10-1-57-2 (1nb, 3w), Bond 9.2-1-43-1, Southee 8-0-48-1 
		(4w), Oram 6-0-26-0,
	 Vettori 10-0-37-2, Styris 4-0-23-3 1w).
 
		
UMPIRES: Bruce Oxenford (AUS), Zameer Haider (PAK).
TV UMPIRE: Asad Rauf (PAK).

MATCH REFEREE: Andy Pycroft (ZIM). 
AFP