Bowlers to be in spotlight in crucial match
In Tuesday’s encounter between New Zealand and Pakistan various internal battles are expected to be witnessed, but the one intriguing clash will be the pace attack of Pakistan team against the spin of the New Zealand side.
The Green Shirts pace attack is a well-known one, as from the days of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, followed by Shoaib Akhtar and the present crop of pacers such as Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Amir, Pakistan have always used pace as their mainstay to threaten the opposite numbers.
However, the surprising factor has been the Black Caps resurgent spin attack. Following Daniel Vettori’s retirement in 2015, the Kiwis foothold in the spin department was set to be lost.
However, the present New Zealand team has shocked everyone with their impressive performances so far in this World T20.
Mitchell Santner is undoubtedly their main weapon in that department, producing impressive performances so far in the tournament.
After his mind blowing 4/11 against India in the opener, he followed it up with another noteworthy contribution against arch-rivals Australia in the next match to pick up two wickets for 30 runs.
Overall, he has 13 wickets from six games in 2016, which includes both T20Is and ODIs.
Ish Sodhi is another who has helped the Kiwis fly high in that department.
Following his 3/18 against India, he was impressive against Australia with 1/14. Not to mention he has 2 more wickets to his name against Sri lanka in the warm-up.
Despite being a surprise inclusion in the World T20 squad, Nathan McCullum has also helped the team massively in that department.
He picked up two against India in the opener and was very economical by giving just 15 runs. He managed two more against England in the warm-up game.
When Pakistan’s pace is taken into account, one doesn’t have to see beyond Amir.
After his spectacular spell against India in the Asia Cup, when he picked 3 wickets in the space of 3 runs, the left-arm pacer has lived up to the level with consistent performances.
The 23-year-old has three wickets to his name so far in World T20. He may not have hit the heights he reached in Asia Cup, when he managed seven wickets from just three games. But, Kiwi batsmen will be very much aware of him and know that if he starts to hit the blocks, then it will be difficult to play against him.
Amir is well supported by Mohammad Sami and Wahab Riaz. Sami may not have lived up to level he raised when he first burst into the scene. However, he has been quite effective.
He was quite effective against India with a 2/17. He scalped three more in the Asia Cup. But on his day Sami can be as deadly as any pace bowler.
Riaz is another who has become a mainstay against in the Pakistan line-up. He was quite economical by giving only 16 runs and also got the prized wicket of Yuvraj in the match, although by time the damage was already done as the Men in Green eventually lost to India.
However, it is not quite sure who the pitch will favour, but if both New Zealand’s spin and Pakistan’s pace does live up to the potential, then Tuesday’s match might be in for a thriller.