WT20, Group E: NZ v Pakistan commentary

NEW ZEALAND WIN BY ONE RUN What an amazing game of cricket! Say what you want about the twenty20 format but that certainly was entertaining if nothing else! Having been under pressure early after a poor start to their innings, Daniel Vettori ensured New Zealand posted something of a total. Pakistan would have backed themselves to chase down 133, and thanks to a great knock from Salman Butt and a few big hits from Razzaq it looked like they would. Butler, Mills and McCullum were economical and kept the pressure on, but the key was the constant flow of wickets. With eleven need off the final over Pakistan were the favourites and with three needed off two they should have got home but in the end Butler's superb final over was enough with Rehman out off the final ball.

Butler is the man whom New Zealand have turned to to bowl the final over, what pressure! A big swing and a miss from Butt first up. With no third man Butt slices the ball over the head of the man in the ring for four. Butler follows it up with a great slower one that beats Butt. Slapped away square of the wicket and Styris running round just can't cut it off. Wow, Butt misses the next one and Rehman calls him through for the single, Hopkins hits the stumps but Rehman is just in. The responsibility to hit the winning runs now! Two need off the last ball! WICKET! Gone Rehman is out, New Zealand win! Rehman clips the ball into the leg side and hits it straight to Guptill in the deep! What amazing scenes!

Over 19 Mills 6-1-1-1-1-1 123-6 - It will be Kyle Mills to bowl the penultimate over. A great shot from Butt first up, getting down low and driving the ball over the ropes for six! Oh, that was close, Rehman dabs the ball into the off side and sets off for the single, McCullum swoops in and shies but misses, Butt was struggling. Top edged but safe! Butt is living a bit dangerously here. Eleven need from the final over!

112-6 - Butt and Razzaq pick off singles to begin the over. Razzaq goes for a big swing and doesn't connect, Hopkins whips off the bails and it's a tight call with only a fraction of the batsman's foot voer the line. WICKET! He's gone! Razzaq abandons his favoured area down the ground to go over midwicket and skies it down the throat of Taylor in the deep. Butt nudges the ball down the ground for a single to bring up his fifty, a very sensible one.

Over 17 Bond 1-0-0-0-0-6 108-5 - Bond to bowl his final over. Two big heaves from Razzaq but he doesn't make contact with either of them as Bond mixes up his pace. Razzaq doesn't need to be doing this. Next he tries to duck out of the way of a short ball but with his eyes nowhere near the ball has a little swing at it. Another dot, four in a row! At last he makes contact and it was worth the wait, a massive six over long on!

Over 16 N McCullum 0-4-0-1-1-1 101-5 - Terrible stuff in the deep as Butt goes on the sweep and it goes to Butler on the bounce - or at least it should - and he completely forgets to take into account the inevitable spin off the grass and the ball goes for four.

Over 15 Vettori 0-0-6-4-0-6 94-5 - Vettori is back for his final over. He's certainly troubling Razzaq who just hasn't been able to get going. That is until he hammers Vettori back over his head for a massive six! Huge! He goes straight again, this time it's a one-bounce four, a big over here. Another one! This time over midwicket, six more! That could be the game changing over.

Over 14 N McCullum 2-1-0-0-0-1 78-5 - A bit of comical fielding out in the deep from Guptill as he loks to flick the ball up to his team-mate running round but only amnages it on the third attempt! No harm done though as Butt is kept down to two.

Over 13 Bond 0-4-1-wd-1-1-0 74-5 - Bond returns to the attack. He's on target immediately, he strayed a touch in his first spell, there is no room for that now. Short ball and Butt is on to it in a flash, hammering it wide of long on, great stuff. Another bouncer from Bond and it is a firey one but is called wide. A good finish to a mediocre over from Bond as he beats the bat of Razzaq.

Over 12 N McCullum 1-1-0-1-1-0 66-5 - Nathan McCullum comes on to bowl; he's been impressive thus far in the tournament .Ooh, some turn there as Razzaq nearly plays back onto his stumps. A good start from McCullum, just four singles off it.

62-5 -The pressure begins to build with a solid Vettori over, Salman Butt is not the key.

59-5 - WICKET! Massive wicket for New Zealand as Afridi departs! Afridi went on the hook and Nathan McCullum takes a great catch diving forward after initially misjudging it.

Over 9 Vettori 1-1-1-1-2-0 55-4 - Butt and Afridi pick off the singles off Vettori, not trying anything fancy. Well played again by Afridi as he cuts jsut wide of the man at point in the ring and picks up two. Oh, so close! Afridi chips on off the leading edge back to Vettori but diving forward the New Zealand skipper just can't get to it in time.

49-4 - A switch of ends for Butler. WICKET! And he strikes immediately! Playing back Misbah misses it completely, height seems the only problem but hawkeye agrees with umpire Gould, it would have hit. Afridi the Pakistani skipper walks out to the crease, a lot rests on his shoulders; the question is will he hit out immediately or consolidate first? Nicely played by Afridi as he opens the face and plays the ball fine, beating third man and picking up four.

Over 7 Vettori 1-0-4-1-1-0 42-3 - Key moment here as Vettori comes on. A bit hard on Butler after bowling a maiden but I'm sure we'll see him again soon! Poor work in the deep from Styris as he goes to field one on the point fence and makes an absolute mess of it, with four the end result.

Over 6 Mills 0-0-4-0-0-4 35-3 - Mills gets a third over. Big shout from Mills as Butt goes on the hook and it looks like it may have got a scratch on the bottom of the bat but the umpire isn't interested. Mills follows it up with a rubbish short ball that is promptly dispatched to the midwicket fence. A wide, floaty delivery outside off to end the over and Butt goes hard at it, cracking the ball over wide third man for four.

Over 5 Butler 0-0-0-0-0-0 27-3 - Butler replaces Bond. Like Mills, Butler is coming back from injury and will be looking to prove a point. Misbah struggles against Butler, failing to get the ball away and it's a maiden first up for Butler, super stuff.

27-3 - WICKET! Umar goes for a first ball duck! Mills hits the pitch hard, gets some extra bounce and Umar doesn't know what to do, he's caught between leaving it and having a go and in the end picks up the edge through to Hopkins. This is just the start New Zealand needed! Mills will be frustrated as he follows the wicket up with a leg side wide to the new man Misbah. Big shout as Misbah is caught in front but there was too much bounce. The batsman gets off the mark off the last ball, defending the ball very fine for a single.

24-2 - Bond continues with the wind behind him and two slips in place. Hafeez to face his first ball and he has an expansive drive at a fairly wide one and narrowly avoids getting an edge. A short arm jab from Hafeez picks up four down the ground, it looked pretty innocuous but does the business. Misdirected full delivery from Bond and its easy pickings for the batsman who helps it one its way to the fine leg fence. WICKET! As with Mills Bond goes for a few but then picks up a wicket with the final ball of the over. Outside off and Hafeez has a little prod at it and finds the edge.

15-1 - It will be Mills to share the new ball with Bond. Butt drives Mills' first ball into the covers where a diving stop from Nathan McCullum means they only get one. Amkal chips the ball into the midwicket region, there is a man out there so again it's just a single. Pakistan won't mind not getting off to a roaring start, it's wickets that matter for now. Mills goes for the bouncer to AKmal but such is the height (or lack thereof) of the batsman, it's called wide. Oh boy, it gets worse as Mills oversteps and we'll have a free hit. Butt makes the most of it, creaming the ball wide of mid on, poor stuff from Mills here, he floated it up outside off and asked to be hit. WICKET! Mills gets his revenge next up as he gets one to move back in an Akmal gets an inside edge back onto his stumps; the Kiwis needed that.

Over 1 Bond 0-2-1-1-0-0 4-0 - Akmal gets off the mark, cutting uppishly through the covers; it's wide of the fielders and doesn't have enough on it to the fence. Some early swing from Bond, interesting stuff. Butt gets a good block hole delivery first up but manages to defend it into the leg side for a single. Some decent pace from Bond as he gets some shape in to Akmal and beats the edge.

Change Of Tactics Spinner Nathan McCullum has opened the bowling thus far for New Zealand but Vettori's decided to go with Bond first up this time.

Ready To Go Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt trot out into the middle and we're just a bout ready to get underway.

Early Wickets Defending a mediocre total, New Zealand are going to have to strike early if they're to have any chance of victory here. Shane Bond hasn't quite been at his best of late and what better time for the experienced campaigner to step up than now.

NZ Finish On 133 For Seven A disappointing effort with the bat from New Zealand and it will take some doing to defend that if Pakistan's batsmen get off to a good start. After two good opening overs by Ryder and McCullum, Pakistan's spinners hit back hard with wickets at regular intervals. The fielders backed them up nicely and Daniel Vettori's 38 added some respectibility to the Kiwi total. Do join us in a few minutes for Pakistan's chase.

Over 20 Ajmal wd-2-1-0-0-1+W-6 133-7 - Saeed Ajmal will bowl the final over of the innings. He makes a poor start as he slides it down the leg side for a wide. Vettori flat bats the next ball straight down the ground and gets a couple. Ajmal hits back by dragging it wide and Vettori can only get a bottom edge for a single. Ajmal bowls a couple of doosras and McCullum doesn't read it.WICKET! He finally makes contact with the ball and goes straight down the ground. They come back for a second, but Vettori is well short. Taking one for the team. McCullum finally gets hold of one and hammers it over the midwicket fence for six.

Over 19 Aamer 2-nb-1-0-2-0-2 122-6 - We will have some pace now as Mohammad Aamer comes back into the attack. Shorter one and Vettori swings and gets a top edge to the square leg region. Another shorter one and this time it's called a no-ball for height. That's a little harsh. McCullum plays it to midwicket and comes back for a second. Vettori has to motor though and needs a second or two to regain his breath. Big swing and miss from McCullum and there's a massive appeal from the Pakistan players for caught behind. I heard a nick, but the umpire clearly didn't. The over ends with a couple more down the ground.

Over 18 Ajmal 0-1-1-0-6-1 114-6 - Death bowling specialist Saeed Ajmal continues. He drags it wide outside off and Vettori first plays and misses and then skies it down the grond for one. After a single to McCullum, Ajmal bowls a quicker one to Vettori and the New Zealand skipper cracks it over the deep midwicket fence for six!

Over 17 Afridi 1-0-0-W-0-1 105-6 - Vettori gives himself more room and puulls for a single. Hopkins plays and misses a couple of times as he looks to crack it through the off side. WICKET! The pressure tells again as he mistimes his pull shot straight to the man at deep midwicket. The other McCullum, Nathan, joins his skipper in the middle.

Over 16 Ajmal 1-0-2-0-1-0 103-5 - Five overs to go and New Zealand will hoping for another 50 or so runs to give them a respectable total. The Kiwi 100 is up with a single to point. Vettori gives himself room to the off side and misses the ball. It goes right over middle stump. Two more to the total with the sweep shot. Another sweep, this time it's mistimed, but it falls a few metres short of the man running in from deep midwicket.

Over 15 Afridi 6-4-0-W-0-1 99-5 - The Pakistan skipper is leaking runs here. Styris stands and delivers over the long-off fence for six and then sweeps through midwicket for four. WICKET! What a tame end after two great shots. Styris looks steer the ball to third man, but ends up chopping it back onto his stumps. Gareth Hopkins is away with one down the ground.

Over 14 Ajmal 0-1-1-1-0-0 88-4 - It's a late introduction into the attack for Saeed Ajmal. Styris turns it to short fine for one. Close one. Vettori turns it to short fine and immediately sets off for the single. 'Old man' Styris has to motor. He gets out the dive and just about makes his ground.

Over 13 Afridi 1-1-0-6-1-1 85-4 - Vettori has the sweep shot out again and he gets a top edge, but it falls safe behind square leg. Shot! Captain Vettori stands and delivers straight down the ground. He hits it very high and for a moment you wonder if it's too high, but in the end it lands up a couple of metres over the long-off fence.

Over 12 Hafeez 4-0-1-1-1-0 74-4 - Hafeez comes back into the attack and Vettori immediately goes for a sweep. It's a powerful shot and beats the man on the boundary. More singles after that.

Over 11 Afridi 0-1-1-1-1lb-2 67-4 - Here's Afridi! Will this also be a masterstroke from the Pakistan skipper. Massive appeal for lbw as Styris is late in getting his bat down. It hit him in line and looked like a good shout. Ooh! Afridi gets some turn and Vettori doesn't deal with it particularly well. Final ball yields two through midwicket.

Over 10 Sami 1-W-1-1-1-0 61-4 - Big call this from Shahid Afridi as he opts to bring Mohammad Sami back into the attack. The fast bowler went for 21 in his opening two overs. Vettori works the first ball to the leg side for one. WICKET! Afridi has the magic touch today as his change brings another wicket. Slightly wide outside off and Taylor's eyes lit up as he looks to go for a booming cover drive. He gets a nick and Kamran Akmal does the rest behind the stumps. Scott Styris joins his captain in the middle. Couple more singles to the total.

Over 9 Rehman 2-4-W-1-wd-0-0 57-3 - McCullum pulls through midwicket for a couple. McCullum finally gets an opportunity to free his arms and slog sweeps for four. That should give him confidence. WICKET! Maybe he got too much confidence from that shot. McCullum sweeps again, but this time he gets a top edge straight to the man at deep square leg and Sami makes no mistake. It's actually weird seeing the Pakistan fielders hold onto the catches. That's a big wicket and the Pakistan players are delighted. Daniel Vettori is the new batsman.

Over 8 Hafeez 0-1-1-0-1-0 49-2 - There hasn't been too much turn so far, but the spinners have done well and Pakistan are back into this after the poor start from the two fast bowlers. It's another excellent over from the spinner. Pakistan, especially their Afridi, looks up for this. The skipper is very animated today.

Over 7 Rehman W-1-1-1-1-1 46-2 - WICKET! The pressure from the previous over tells. Guptill has his dancing shoes on but ends up hitting the ball the ball in the air. Umar Akmal runs a few metres forward from long-on and dives forward to take a brilliant catch. It looks like the right Pakistan have turned up today following their horror show the other day. Ross Taylor is the new man and Afridi has a slip in. Rehman keeps it down to singles.

Over 6 Hafeez 0-0-0-0-0-1 41-1 - This is the final over of the Powerplay and New Zealand will now have to deal with spin from both ends as Mohammad Hafeez gets a bowl. Guptill treats him with caution. It's a brilliant over from Hafeez. Guptill nearly chips one to mid-on and then gets beaten by a beauty. The Kiwi No 3 feels the pressure and he takes a risky single down the ground. There's a shy at the stumps and Guptill has to pull out the dive. It was for nothing though as the fielder failed to hit the stumps.

Over 5 Rehman wd-0-0-1-0-0-4 40-1 - We will have some spin now as Abdur Rehman comes into the attack. Afridi has a slip in place for him. Rehman should feel good right now as he just took a catch. He doesn't start so well though as he goes down the leg side for a wide. He fires it in and Guptill takes a risky single to the on. An excellent over is spoilt with one down the leg side. McCullum goes for the sweep and gets four.

Over 4 Sami 4-4-1-0-W-0 34-1 - Sami stays on despite his poor opening over. It's not a good decision by captain Shahid Afridi as Sami goes for plenty this over as well. First McCullum gives himself room to punch it straight down the ground for four, then he cracks it wide of the diving point. A pull to deep backward square yields one more. WICKET! Mmm. Maybe it's not such a bad decision from Afridi. Ryder looks to whip it down to the fine leg boundary, but he skies it to deep square leg. Rehman takes the catch. Martin Guptill is the new man.

Over 3 Aamer 0-1-0-1-1-2 25-0 - McCullum pushes the ball to mid-on and sets off for a quick single. Careful now! Ryder gets a leading edge, but the ball clears the man at midwicket and gets a single. After another single to McCullum, Ryder ends the over with a lovely shot through midwicket for a couple.

Over 2 Sami 2-0-4-5wd-0-lb-wd-0 20-0 - McCullum finally opens up and skies it over cover for a couple. More fancy footwork, but it's a swing and miss. Shot! He opts to stay in his crease next ball and cracks it through extra cover for four. Sami bowls an absolute shocker down the leg side. The keeper has no chance and it's five wides. Another wide, this time outside the left-hander's off-stump. Shocking stuff from the two Pakistan openers.

Over 1 Aamer wd-0-0-0-1-0-wd-4 7-0 - Aamer slides the first one across the right-handed McCullum, but it's too wide for the umpire's liking and New Zealand are underway with an extra. Aamer gets one to nip back sharply at Baz and there's an appeal for lbw, but it was high and hit him outside the line. McCullum is away with an outside edge down to third man. Another wide, this time down the leg side to the left-hander. The 'extra' ball sits up and Ryder has plenty of time to pull it through midwicket for the first boundary of game.

Here Are The Openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder have gone through their ritual and Mohammad Aamer has sent down a couple of looseners. Let's get this game going.

Anthem Time Conquest of Paradise rings out as the teams march out to the middle. That is followed by the two respective anthems - Pakistan's Qaumī Tarāna and God Defend New Zealand.

State Of The Group South Africa are top with two points and a net run rate of +0.65, England are also on two points and their run rate is +0.39. New Zealand and Pakistan are pointless and their run rates are -0.39 and -0.65 respectively.

Starting XIs: Pakistan Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Sami

New Zealand Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Ian Butler, Daniel Vettori, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond

Team news Both teams have made two changes. For Pakistan, Mohammad Asif and Fawad Alam have been given the boot and they are replaced by Mohammad Sami and Abdur Rehman. New Zealand leave out Tim Southee and Jacob Oram. Ian Buttler and Kyle Mills are their replacements.

The Toss Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has won the toss and elected to bowl first. Let's hope they put in a better display in the field than they did against England the other day. Maybe I'm too harsh, Saeed Ajmal was the big culprit so let's hope he improves this game.

Get In Touch We are at the business end of the World Twenty20. Do send us your views on this game or the tournament in general. Send your views to cricket_editorial@teamtalkmedia.co.za.

Must-Win Game Both teams will be desperate for victory today after losing their opening games of the Super Eights. Pakistan put in a woeful display, especially in the field, against England while South Africa were too strong for Black Caps.

Greetings Welcome to our live over-by-over coverage of the World Twenty20 Group E match between New Zealand and Pakistan.

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