Flimsy Kiwis run out of puff (18 June 1999)

18 June 1999

Flimsy Kiwis run out of puff

Daryl Holden

What a nightmare. Three hours sleep for that.

You couldn't deny Pakistan its easy cricket World Cup semi-final win. They were streets, highways and whatever else you can think of ahead of the Black Caps, especially in the bowling stakes.

They had the Rawalpindi Express. We had Thomas the Tank Engines. That's something that needs to be addressed if we ever hope to win the world one-day crown.

The big guns of world cricket -- Australia, Pakistan and South Africa -- don't rely on one quality quick bowler and two or three frustrate-the-hell-out-of-you trundlers.

Penetration, pace, and variation is the key.

Accuracy is obviously important, but a fat lot of good that did us.

Pakistan coughed up 47 extras -- mostly wides and no-balls -- but still won with ridiculous ease.

Akhtar, Akram and company taught us a lesson. They showed how seriously inept we are at playing top fast bowling.

Astle and McMillan. Anybody notice their technique? How Horne survived those early overs was down to one thing. Luck!

Fleming looked good for a while. Then he lost his leg stump.

That we made 241 was amazing, but we needed much more with our pop-gun attack if we didn't strike early.

Anwar and Wasti batted out of this world for Pakistan in the run chase and that shouldn't be forgotten, but it was all too easy.

Allott was the wicket-taking threat. Once he was dealt to, there was no stopping them. South Africa revisited.

Frustrating? You bet.

The Black Caps did unbelievably well to make the semi-finals, but they could just as easily have been knocked out in the first round. That shouldn't be forgotten. There is still much hard work to be done.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)