Grant Elliott braved a thumb injury with an impressive half-century as New Zealand stormed into the Champions Trophy final with a five-wicket victory over Pakistan on Saturday.
Elliott cracked an unbeaten 75 to help his injury-hit team achieve a 234-run target with 13 balls to spare. New Zealand will now clash with defending champions Australia in the final today.
“It all started with the way we bowled. The 234 was a target we fancied we could chase,” New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said.
PHOTO: AFP
New Zealand, who have lost five of their six semi-finals against Pakistan in one-day internationals, improved that record with a superb all-round performance in the day-night match.
Pace man Ian Butler grabbed a career-best four for 44 and left-arm spinner Vettori finished with three for 43 to restrict Pakistan, before Elliott completed the victory with a brave 103-ball knock, including a six and five fours.
New Zealand, who had lost Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram and Daryl Tuffey during the tournament to injuries, were sweating over Elliott’s fitness on the eve of the match, even summoning Scott Styris as cover.
Elliott received valuable support from Vettori (41), adding 104 for the fifth wicket to ensure his team’s second appearance in the final of the tournament. New Zealand were the winners in 2000 in Nairobi.
Vettori was named man of the match for his all-round performance.
Pakistan’s best chance of keeping pressure on New Zealand came in the 40th over, but skipper Younus Khan dropped Elliott in the covers off pace man Mohammad Aamer. The batsman was then on 42.
Debutant Aaron Redmond (31) and Ross Taylor (38) were the other notable contributors for New Zealand.
“I think we were 20 to 25 runs short,” Younus said.
Pakistan earlier looked set to reach a challenging total following teenager Umar Akmal’s solid 55. They were 174-5 in 40 overs, before Vettori and Butler struck in quick succession.
The 19-year-old Umar Akmal, brother of wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran, looked unhappy with Australian umpire Simon Taufel’s decision when given out leg before wicket while attempting to sweep Vettori. It appeared from the TV replays that he had inside-edged the delivery on to his pads.
Umar Akmal cracked seven fours in his 62-ball knock for his second half-century.
Butler then grabbed a big wicket when he had Shahid Afridi (4) caught behind to have Pakistan really struggling at 183-7.
Teenager Aamer (19 not out) and Saeed Ajmal (14 not out) added 35 runs off 34 deliveries for the last wicket. Aamer hit four boundaries, including three in pace man Shane Bond’s over.
Umar Akmal and Mohammad Yousuf steadied the innings with an 80-run stand for the fifth wicket after Pakistan had been reduced to 86-4. Yousuf made 45 before inside-edging a Kyle Mills delivery on to his stumps.
Pakistan started impressively after winning the toss on a good Wanderers pitch, with openers Kamran (24) and Imran Nazir (28) playing attacking strokes to put on 46 in 9.4 overs. They failed to capitalize on the start as they lost four wickets in the space of 40 runs.
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