Vettori scathing of New Zealand performance
NAPIER: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has issued a scathing critique of his side's top order, describing their performance as "unacceptable" in their latest defeat by Pakistan.
Pakistan lead the six-match series 2-1, with one game washed out, after winning the third encounter by two wickets with an over to spare on Tuesday.
In a series being used to fine-tune for the World Cup, New Zealand have gone downhill since romping to a nine-wicket win in the first game, and the second was washed out.
Pakistan won the third match by a commanding 43 runs and were just as dominant in Napier.
On a McLean Park pitch tailor-made for batting, and which Vettori rated as worth at least 300 an innings, New Zealand struggled to 262-7 thanks largely to a salvage mission by the middle and tail batsmen.
Pakistan knocked off the target with an over to spare to take a psychological edge going into the fifth match at Hamilton on Thursday.
"Being five for 80 at McLean Park, I don't think that's acceptable. It's a great batting deck and it's just not acceptable," Vettori said as he analysed yet another top order failure by New Zealand.
"I was pleased with the way (James) Franklin and the two McCullums (Brendon and Nathan) scrapped to give us a score, they all played exceptionally well to give us credibility, but five for 80 is just not good enough."
Franklin, who was brought into the side at the last minute when Jesse Ryder pulled out with a finger injury, top scored with 62 from 75 balls.
He also featured in New Zealand's two highest partnerships, 62 with Brendon McCullum (37) and 64 with Nathan McCullum who posted his first half century and was unbeaten on 53 at the close.
Misbah-ul-Haq, who has toyed with the New Zealand bowling throughout the Test and one-day series, showed how easy the pitch was to play with an effortless, and career best, 93 not out.
He bolstered the Pakistan innings with an 89-run partnership! with Y ounis Khan (42) and then a 40-run stand with Abdul Razzaq (23).
But while Misbah provided the necessary runs for victory, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi gave credit for the win to his bowlers who destroyed New Zealand's recognised batsmen.
"The track was heaven for the batsmen, and I think the way the boys bowled they really bowled well and and I think the credit goes to the bowlers," he said.
Left-armer Wahab Riaz was the prime wicket-taker with three for 51 from 10 overs while Abdul Razzaq slowed the scoring with a miserly one for 16 off seven.
Pakistan lead the six-match series 2-1, with one game washed out, after winning the third encounter by two wickets with an over to spare on Tuesday.
In a series being used to fine-tune for the World Cup, New Zealand have gone downhill since romping to a nine-wicket win in the first game, and the second was washed out.
Pakistan won the third match by a commanding 43 runs and were just as dominant in Napier.
On a McLean Park pitch tailor-made for batting, and which Vettori rated as worth at least 300 an innings, New Zealand struggled to 262-7 thanks largely to a salvage mission by the middle and tail batsmen.
Pakistan knocked off the target with an over to spare to take a psychological edge going into the fifth match at Hamilton on Thursday.
"Being five for 80 at McLean Park, I don't think that's acceptable. It's a great batting deck and it's just not acceptable," Vettori said as he analysed yet another top order failure by New Zealand.
"I was pleased with the way (James) Franklin and the two McCullums (Brendon and Nathan) scrapped to give us a score, they all played exceptionally well to give us credibility, but five for 80 is just not good enough."
Franklin, who was brought into the side at the last minute when Jesse Ryder pulled out with a finger injury, top scored with 62 from 75 balls.
He also featured in New Zealand's two highest partnerships, 62 with Brendon McCullum (37) and 64 with Nathan McCullum who posted his first half century and was unbeaten on 53 at the close.
Misbah-ul-Haq, who has toyed with the New Zealand bowling throughout the Test and one-day series, showed how easy the pitch was to play with an effortless, and career best, 93 not out.
He bolstered the Pakistan innings with an 89-run partnership! with Y ounis Khan (42) and then a 40-run stand with Abdul Razzaq (23).
But while Misbah provided the necessary runs for victory, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi gave credit for the win to his bowlers who destroyed New Zealand's recognised batsmen.
"The track was heaven for the batsmen, and I think the way the boys bowled they really bowled well and and I think the credit goes to the bowlers," he said.
Left-armer Wahab Riaz was the prime wicket-taker with three for 51 from 10 overs while Abdul Razzaq slowed the scoring with a miserly one for 16 off seven.
Comments