FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015 44 Taylor’s form not a concern for NZ team

WELLINGTON: ’s last innings Taylor’s half , the 30th of his punch of Kane Williamson and Taylor for the belligerent attitude of McCullum at the against Bangladesh should have been a cel- career, was his highest score in the tourna- any other combination in the world and the top of the order means Taylor has not had ebration for the 31-year-old right hander. ment having accumulated just 53 runs in pair were seen as crucial cogs in New the time in the middle, something team He became the fourth bats- his previous five innings, though two of Zealand’s quest for their first World Cup mate Grant Elliott suggested on Thursday. man to surpass 5,000 ODI runs in his innings those were just to finish off a small title. Fans and cricket writers, however, have “The middle order really hasn’t had a of 56 and the fastest to achieve the mile- chase.Prior to the World Cup, Taylor had been left scratching their heads at Taylor’s go,” the 35-year-old said ahead of New stone, needing 144 innings to reach the fig- looked to be back to the form of 12 months seeming loss of confidence during the Zealand’s quarter-final with West Indies ure, three faster than Nathan Astle. ago when he scored successive centuries World Cup. tomorrow. Instead, many people pointed to the against then scored another in “We had a good go in the Sri Lanka and uncharacteristically pedestrian nature in December against Pakistan in UAE to Strong position Pakistan series but the bowlers have been which he achieved the runs in Friday’s become just the fifth man to score three He has not looked comfortable starting exceptional and we haven’t had to chase three- win. The normally aggressive consecutive ODI tons. his innings, jumping around the crease and too many.” and fluent Taylor needed 82 balls to reach He also scored 96 against Sri Lanka in flailing his bat outside off to deliveries that Elliot, who comes in at five immediately 50 and added just another six runs in 15 Dunedin in January and then 59 ordinarily he would let go, while he has behind Taylor, was also convinced his team deliveries before he was trapped in front by and 102 not out - his 12th ODI century - struggled with his timing even after getting mate was tracking along nicely ahead of the attempting a slog sweep to against Pakistan in two matches immedi- settled. quarter-final against West Indies in deep mid-wicket - a shot considered a ately before the tournament. Some of the problems could be attrib- Wellington on Saturday. weakness that he had all but eradicated ear- Brendon McCullum said prior to the uted to the fact New Zealand’s bowlers “I think Ross has been in really good lier in his career. tournament he would not swap his 3-4 have put them in such strong positions and form,” he added. —Reuters

Gayle could blow away NZ’s chances in windy Wellington WELLINGTON: Strong southerly winds have buffeted New Zealand’s capital this week as the remnants of Cyclone Pam moved south-east of the country but cricket fans are questioning whether a Gayle will strike Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday. New Zealand face West Indies in the fourth and final World Cup quar- ter-final on Saturday, with the winner to face in the semi- final at next Tuesday. Chris Gayle’s side are the underdogs for the match after West Indies lurched into the knockout phase, while New Zealand were undefeated throughout the pool stage and have firmed as one of the tournament favourites. Many pundits and fans, however, see the aggressive Gayle as the one ADELAIDE: Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann (L) and cricketer George Bailey (R) listens to (2nd R) during a training West Indies player who could single-handedly guide his side into the session in Adelaide yesterday, ahead of the 2015 quarter-final match between Australia and Pakistan. —AFP semi-final if he manages to get going. The 35-year-old left-handed opener is one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket and earlier in the tournament became the first man to score a double century at the World Cup when he blasted 215 Favourites don’t always against Zimbabwe in . He is now the only man to have scored a test triple century, a ODI double century and a international century. win: Pakistan’s It also ended a slump the Jamaican had been in for almost two years, having scored just 274 runs at 14.42 in 19 ODI innings since his last cen- tury. He exceeded 50 just once in that time span and failed to pass 20 on ADELAIDE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq they have lost their last seven one-day interna- a run of wins that included a victory over high- 14 occasions. fired the first salvo ahead of his team’s World tionals away to the Aussies. ly-fancied South Africa “I think four straight Taking away the double century, however, Gayle has scored 64 runs Cup quarter-final match in Adelaide today, say- “Everyone is calling them favourites and if wins gives you a lot of confidence as a playing in the tournament, indicating that he is still struggling for form, while he ing Australia will be favourites-but that any other team beat them then it’s called an unit, the mindset is good and the momentum battles a back injury that forced him out of their final pool game and favourites don’t always win. upset, so for us if we can do that then it’s very is with us and this is the best time to play necessitated a pain-killing injection. The odds are in favour of four-time champi- good for Pakistan cricket as well,” said Misbah, against such a good team because we are also ons and co-hosts Australia, but Pakistan’s who said his squad were in upbeat mood after in a good frame of mind,” said Misbah. Struggling batsmen unpredictable nature and four consecutive wins The is familiar territory for Few, however, can take away that innings and while New Zealand after a poor start to the tournament make them Pakistan, who lost their World Cup opener to have said they could not afford to concentrate on just Gayle, it is clear he threatening opponents. “They (Australia) are defending champions India at the South is the man who can do the most damage in the shortest amount of time. favourites but there is no hard-and-fast rule that Australia ground before defeating Ireland there “Obviously everyone knows what Chris Gayle can do and he is one of favourites are always going to win the match,” in the pool phase. the biggest match winners in world cricket, so it’s important we put a lit- said Misbah on Thursday. “It’s which team per- “When you are playing more games at a tle bit of focus on him,” New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson told forms better on the day, takes their chances certain venue you tend to adopt the conditions reporters this week. and have some luck, they can really defeat any well,” said Misbah. “You know the dimensions “When he plays well, he takes any team down in world cricket.” team,” he added. “We are positive and hopeful. well, you are used to that atmosphere and that The rest of West Indies batsmen have failed to truly set the tourna- I think we’ve got a line-up which can can help you,” said Misbah. ment alight, with the only other player to have scored go through any () line-up.” The skipper said it was important his side more than 200 runs, 133 of which came against Zimbabwe. Misbah insisted his side were not daunted did not take a backward step against Australia. They have also looked vulnerable against the swinging ball and face by playing Australia, saying teams that wanted “Australia play aggressive cricket and if you arguably the best new ball pair in the tournament in Trent Boult (15 to win the World Cup had to expect to face want to be up against them, you also need to ) and (13 wickets) on Saturday. major opposition. “When you have a goal of play good aggressive cricket.” West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy, however, said if Gayle winning the World Cup, you have to beat any Misbah admitted losing giant paceman negates Boult and Southee’s initial attack the expected sell-out crowd of team on the way,” said Misbah, who admitted a Mohammad Irfan to a tournament-ending hip 30,000 could see some fireworks from the opening batsman and his Pakistan win on Friday would be regarded as injury had been a big loss. “Obviously he is a team mates. an upset. different kind of bowler and his loss is big, but “I think they are the best new ball pair in the World Cup and they “Australia is tough in home conditions,” ADELAIDE: Pakistan cricket team you have to manage things and you can’t say have been doing it consistently,” Sammy said. said Misbah of an Australian side who have that if he is out, we can’t play. captain Misbah-ul-Haq speaks “If you don’t allow them to take wickets then a different plan only lost once to Pakistan in their last ten home “We have other good bowlers, the kind of comes into play and the Andersons and other guys come in. “We matches. Pakistan’s most recent win against during a press conference in bowlers who can put Australia under pres- know within our group that if we do the basics well then were are Australia in Australia came in Perth in 2005 and Adelaide yesterday. —AFP sure.” —AFP unstoppable.” —Reuters