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Another global tournament is upon us and, once again, New Zealand provided a reminder they are not to be underestimated.<\/p>\n
It has been 29 long years since Pakistan last hosted an ICC event but while it was a moment to savour and enjoy, it was the Black Caps left celebrating at the end – victory ensured with a minimum of fuss.<\/p>\n
They lost the toss, were put in and quickly lost three of their top four – including talisman Kane Williamson, caught behind after a beauty from Naseem Shah, for one – but there was no sense of panic.<\/p>\n
Young just continued to bat as he had from the start, calmly rotating the strike and punishing the bad balls in a knock that screamed sensible cricket.<\/p>\n
There was more attacking intent from Latham late in the innings but through the middle overs, he was happy to follow Young’s lead.<\/p>\n
This was not the T20 approach stretched over 50 overs as seems to have become the strategy employed by others but an almost old-fashioned ODI innings based around steady scoring through the middle overs, wickets in hand and a barnstorming final 10 overs.<\/p>\n
Young had reached his fourth ODI hundred and departed before the late onslaught but the Black Caps could hardly have planned for a better situation than Phillips striding to the crease with 12.4 overs remaining.<\/p>\n
While Latham moved through the gears to reach his eighth ODI ton, Phillips plundered three fours and four sixes in a typically destructive knock that capped a wonderfully paced New Zealand innings.<\/p>\n
By contrast, Pakistan failed to find the required balance in the chase as they started at a glacial pace and, ultimately, left themselves too much to do.<\/p>\n
Given the ease in which their lower order managed to clear the ropes as the innings progressed, Rizwan’s side will be ruing that slow start with their semi-final hopes already hanging by a thread.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n