It was not gross – it was Ross at his best
The International Stadium at Pallekele has been the venue for quite a few ODIs. There have been close finishes, intense battles and feats of exciting batsmanship. However, for excitement pure and simple, the batting of the New Zealanders, in particular that of the since-deposed Ross Taylor, in the 2011 World Cup group match against the volatile Pakistanis is difficult to outdo.
Taylor sent spectators into raptures and caused bewilderment amongst the Pakistanis, who along with India and Sri Lanka were pre-tournament favorites. His 124-ball unbeaten 131 was studded with seven dazzling sixes and eight sweetly timed boundaries.
Ross Taylor hit 131 runs off 124 balls against Pakistan at Pallekele
But it should never have been. His second ball, a shorter one fired up Shoaib Akhtar, was edged at a catchable height between stumper Akmal and Younis Khan at slip. They looked at each other stupefied as the ball sped to the boundary, the next delivery was slashed through to the boundary. During the fourth delivery Akhtar induced another outside edge but was once again let down when the keeper dropped the simple nick.
Opportunity doesn’t knock twice. There was no looking back, no letup, as Ross Taylor celebrated his 27th Birthday with a breathtaking innings that simply took the game away from the increasingly confused and helpless Pakistan team. Taylor favoured the square leg-mid-wicket region, which he frequently pummeled with rasping pulls and audacious pickup shots.
The off side was not forgotten either as Taylor cut or drove when the bowlers presented him with opportunities on that side of the wicket.
Opener Martin Guptill had set the early pace with a punishing knock of 57 and Jacob Oram, no stranger to big sixes, made a cameo 25 off nine deliveries at the end. Yet it was a one man show and the situation was tailor made for Ross.
Shoaib was lashed to the tune of 28 in his ninth over. If that was bad, Abdul Razzak was absolutely murdered in the next as he was hit for thirty. 114 runs were added in a mere six overs as the Kiwis pillaged and plundered a Pakistan attack that had five very respectable bowlers at International level. Shoaib went for 70 in his nine overs: Razzak for 49 in four; Afridi for 55 in ten; Rehman conceded 60 in ten and Hafeez 26 in seven. The shining light was the admirable Umar Gul who escaped punishment as his figures of 10-1-32-3 testify.
The shell-shocked Pakistanis replied to the New Zealand total of 302-7 with a rather feeble 191 in 41.4 overs. Mind you, Vettori, New Zealand’s most able and effective bowler, didn’t bowl as he injured his knee early in the reply. Umar Akmal (38), Razzak (62) and Gul 34 not out tried to make amends but to no avail. With a 301-run cushion, the Kiwi bowlers enjoyed impunity. Mills (2-43), Southee (3-25), Nathan McCullum (2-28) and Styris (2-17) put a lid on Pakistan’s best efforts.
If is interesting to note that New Zealand have generally been one of the brides maids but never the bride at world cup events. The 2011 event was another instance. They tasted success at a Champions Trophy Tournament though.
The laid back and quietly communicative Taylor has been replaced by the more hands-on and charismatic Brendon McCullum. The results were seen in the series against England on home soil. One reckons that McCullum will hold the reins for the next edition of the world cup in 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. Can the new skipper cajole and show the way to his team to go all the way? These are early times but one would be surprised if that were to happen.
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