Cricket: Ross Taylor's terrific unbeaten century set up New Zealand's comprehensive 110-run victory over Pakistan in their World Cup Group A match in Pallekele today. Birthday boy Taylor scored 131 off 124 balls as New Zealand blasted 100 off last five overs to reach 302 for seven.
Pakistan’s chase was derailed after half the side were dismissed inside 15 overs, with paceman Tim Southee picking up three, but Abdul Razzaq (62 off 74) gave the former champions a flicker of hope before they were eventually dismissed for 192 in under 42 overs.
Whatever Taylor was given for his birthday, the two gift-wrapped let-offs from Pakistan in their World Cup clash will surely be his most cherished after a quite amazing innings.
Now boasting the ripe old age of 27, Taylor has Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal to thank as first a snick went begging through the slips and then an even more straightforward catch behind was fumbled when he was on eight
Taylor never looked back and it was the fortunate Pallekele crowd who enjoyed the happiest of birthday treats with some more extraordinary hitting as the Kiwis cruised to victory with 110 runs to spare.
Taylor saved the best until the final 10 overs, launching himself at the Pakistan in a one-man crusade aimed apparently at destroying the roofing of a stadium staging its first World Cup match with some huge six-hitting.
One blow actually left the premises.
He was still there at the end of the 50 overs, with seven sixes and eight fours having helped his side add no less than 100 runs off just five overs. New Zealand, scarcely believing their luck after looking good for no more than 240 or so at one stage, closed on 302-7.
There was cricketing carnage everywhere for Pakistan and nobody, not even venerable bowlers like 35-year-old Shoaib Akhtar or Shahid Afridi who only took 1-55, was spared.
In one brutal over - the 47th of the innings - Shoaib was struck for three sixes and two fours as Taylor raced past three figures in 117 balls. That over cost Shoaib 28 runs.
Abdul Razzaq bowled the 49th over and was clubbed for three sixes and two fours with 30 runs coming off the over. To add considerable salt to the previously unbeaten group leaders' wounds, Taylor revealed later that he had carried out such a mighty hammering with a damaged bat.
"I cracked it in the nets a couple of days ago but it seemed to go okay today . . . hopefully the new one will be just as good," he said. "I've only had it for a couple of weeks."
Pakistan lost wickets in a hurry to the New Zealand seamers and suddenly the previously supine pitch looked full of demons. Tim Southee picked up three wickets while Kyle Mills grabbed two as Pakistan were reduced to 23 for four and then 66 for six wickets as any hope of a successful chase evaporated in a puff.
Only a late flurry of defiant blows from Razzaq (62) helped his team retain some vestige of pride from this game and a final score of 192 all out in 41.4 overs.
New Zealand's only cloud on Tuesday was the injury to skipper and spin bowler Daniel Vettori. Vettori was treated for a right knee injury, picked up early in the Pakistan innings when he dived precariously while attempting a catch. He will find out within a couple of days how serious it is.