"It won't be an easy task for New Zealand to beat us in this ODI series" : Azhar Mahmood

[MenInG]

Pakistan bowling coach, Azhar Mahmood, speaking to the media

It was frustrating in Wellington with the match ending due to rain but then you can only control what is in your hands

The way we were going with the run rate in the end is quite encouraging and shows that we have the ability to beat any side

Our strength is in taking wickets with the new balll but unfortunately we did not take any in the 1st game

Tomorrow is another game and hopefully we can get Colin Munro early

I have played with him in Auckland and I know his strengths and weaknesses but fact is that he has been playing really well and he is in the middle of a purple patch

Munro does give you chances to get him out so hopefully we will get him out early

It was very windy in the last game and we have an inexperienced side

Only Amir had played there before but our youngside coped really well in a tough situation

I think we played well in 1st ODI but if you dont take the catch of someone like Williamson then we could have ended up chasing 270-280

KW is a class act and if you give him a chance then its difficult for the bowling line-up

Munro has full license to play shots and will give you chances, but Guptill is a proper batsman who will take his time and build his innings

We have a good bowling attack and 1st ODI is the first time in the last 10 games or so that someone has made more than 250 against us

We beat big teams in the Champions Trophy but NZ are playing well and at their home

It wont be an easy task for New Zealand to beat us in this ODI series

We can are very positive and can get Guptill and Munro early in the morning

Playing Southee and Boult is a challenge for us as they are good bowlers and we are playing away from home

Baz could stay on the crease longer if he had to so in that way he was different from Munro

 

[MenInG]

Just quietly, Trent Boult would love a crack at his mate "Munners" with the red ball. But with the white one? Forget about it.

"He's definitely one of those guys you want in your side. He's getting us off to flyers each time," the Black Caps bowler said of his in-form team-mate Colin Munro.

The 30-year-old batsman has become a lethal key strike weapon at the top of the order, having notched scores of 58, 104, 66, 53 and 21 in his past five matches.

And long may that form continue, Boult said, as the Black Caps, unbeaten in eight games now, ready for their second one-day international against Pakistan at Saxton Oval in Nelson on Tuesday.

"Munners is slipping in nicely. There's a lot of aggressiveness at the top of the order there and it's nice to be seeing the ball sailing like it is," he said.

"I think he's really enjoying his cricket, he's in red-hot form and again hopefully there's a few more quick runs in the tank from him."

Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood is very familiar with Munro and Martin Guptill, having played alongside New Zealand's opening pair during a stint with Auckland Aces in 2011.

He said it was crucial for his bowlers to strike early - tipping former team-mate Munro as the key wicket.

"I played with him at Auckland, and Guptill as well, and I know their plus and weaknesses. He's been playing well and hitting the ball well and he's having a purple patch. But he will give you a chance to get him out. [Tuesday] is a new day so hopefully we can get him out," Mahmood said.

"Our strength is we keep taking wickets with the new ball and last game we didn't and the practice game we didn't. That's our strength and that's why we can beat any side. [Tuesday] is a new game and hopefully we can get him early."

Mahmood said Pakistan's less experienced players struggled in the foreign and extremely windy conditions at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Saturday as they slumped to a 61-run loss via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

He appeared a tad frustrated at the fact the game was decided by the Duckworth-Lewis method, adamant they were still a good chance to win with Fakhar Zaman at the crease on 82 not out.

But as he said, Tuesday is a new day and the loss certainly hasn't knocked any confidence out of the current Champions Trophy holders - Mahmood again declaring Pakistan can beat anyone.

He is just hoping for more of the sunshine Pakistan were greeted to at training on Monday, although he may be disappointed to learn the forecast is for afternoon rain on Tuesday.

"We've got the best bowling lineup and that's what we showed in the last nine games. No other team has made more than 240 against us - this was the first time in the last 10 games. So we've got skillful bowlers who can do a job for us and this is a different ball game, and the sun is out and it's less colder.

"In Wellington I think it was a 20 degree drop down from when we landed to when we were at the ground. It was freezing and I feel like we were playing in England."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...s-opener-colin-munro-looms-large-for-pakistan

 

[shokz1408]

Well it's good to see he's remaining positive. It was sad to see the batsman fall like a pack of cards. But fakhars batting, and shadab and faheems support give me hope. I just hope we bat first tomorrow.

 

[MenInG]

Well it's good to see he's remaining positive. It was sad to see the batsman fall like a pack of cards. But fakhars batting, and shadab and faheems support give me hope. I just hope we bat first tomorrow.

Ultra positive! NZ journos asked a few times about how good NZ were etc but he just came back with Pakistan played well etc

 

[Shafi]

NZ only needs 2 win out of 4 matches. Based on the team selection and players' performance I will be surprised even if we win 1 match in this series.

 

[Usman Chadda]

NZ only needs 2 win out of 4 matches. Based on the team selection and players' performance I will be surprised even if we win 1 match in this series.

So why are you watching? Don't watch and don't whine. Simple.

 

[Hasan123]

Yet we have PP experts predicting 4-1 to Pakistan ) )

 

[Shafi]

So why are you watching? Don't watch and don't whine. Simple.

Because there is always hope. Miracle happen even with Azhar or Hafeez in the team

 

[Dr_Green]

Have to add Haris sohail and Aamir Yamin to the side!

Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Haris
Malik
Sarfraz
Fahim
Yamin
Shadab
Hassan
Amir

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Because there is always hope. Miracle happen even with Azhar or Hafeez in the team

hope is the only thing that keeps most of us going

 

[Sherlock]

Thought NZ were excellent in how they batted, and then how they bowled.

Gotta say I'd hate to play in those conditions if I was a tourist playing there for the first time. It looked really difficult. Hence why Fakhar's innings was heartening.

I still go by what I felt would be the result in the ODIs...

4-1 NZ. Not gonna be easy for the younger lads that have never played in these conditions before.

 

[saabir]

Really like the attitude of this fighter. I hope this confidence transform into the performance of the side. Although pak lack a hitter or two in the playing 11 still a decent side who can chase under 300 total.

 

[Ahson8]

Yet we have PP experts predicting 4-1 to Pakistan ) )

Did you even read the title ?

 

[waleed88]

Pakistan has been real sitting ducks against NZ off late anything other than an NZ series win is unthinkable...

 

[Hasan123]

Did you even read the title ?

My point is that bowling coaching is predicting a difficult series whilst some on this forum predicted a 4 -1 series win whilst one predicted a 5-0 win to Pakistan.

 

[babajee]

My point is that bowling coaching is predicting a difficult series whilst some on this forum predicted a 4 -1 series win whilst one predicted a 5-0 win to Pakistan.

[MENTION=143023]SarfiBabarHaris[/MENTION] has never been wrong

 

[Hasan123]

[MENTION=143023]SarfiBabarHaris[/MENTION] has never been wrong

We'll see at the end of this series. I hope he is this time.

 

[Shafi]

Only miracle can save us from 8-0. We are playing worse than last time and recent WI team touring NZ

 

[Mamoon]

It is looking like a walk in the park.

 

[Pete Rose]

While Azhar has earned his right to mouth off, his bowlers have let him down here.

 

[Justcrazy]

Azhar has to be dropped and Harris sohail should be in.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Azhar needs to be dropped man

 

[chacha kashmiri]

The bowlers aren’t going to rescue the fragile batting , it’s not going to happen

There’s going to be no rescue act of Hassan Ali getting 6 bowlers yorked in one over and every match becoming one of them nail biting low scoring matches

Our bowlers aren’t in space jam , they’re in New Zealand
The bowlers ent out there with bail money for the shoddy batters

Put a 300 up on the board if you want to be challenging
Stop waiting on Hassan Ali for a rescue once the batters start accelerating up to 5rpo in the last three overs of their innings

 

[Snatch]

Yawn Azhar, nice attention seeking article but, NO it will be an easy task for NZ and i can tell you they'll be quietly disappointed if it's not a 5-nil scoreline. The gulf between the two sides is significant.

NZ has stronger batting, stronger fielding and overall stronger bowling, even if bowling is a little closer between the two sides.

 

[dauntless]

Nope it doesn't seem to be the case here they are beating quite easily.I m afraid 5-0 is coming up but predicted 4-1 though!

 

[jnaveen1980]

NZ is a gun team in their own turf. They can beat anyone here. They know the angles of the smallish grounds.