New Zealand rue missed opportunities against Pakistan

Boredom and a lack of patience were to blame for New Zealand’s missed opportunities on the opening day of the second test against Pakistan, Ross Taylor said.

By (Reuters)

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Published: Sat 15 Jan 2011, 12:16 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 6:30 PM

Taylor’s frank admission came after New Zealand struggled to 246 for six at the close of play on Saturday, though they could have been better placed had four of the top six not been dismissed after bright starts.

Taylor, who top scored with 78, and Martin Guptill (29) were both dismissed chasing wide deliveries after they had shown patience and composure early in their innings.

Kane Williamson (21) and James Franklin (33) had also made good starts but were dismissed off non-threatening deliveries.

Franklin helped resurrect the New Zealand innings in partnership with Taylor but he tickled a wide delivery around his legs to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal while Williamson prodded at a straight delivery from Umar Gul.

“We had a debrief and (realised that we) probably missed opportunities,” Taylor told reporters, adding that a couple of players were unlucky and others “bored out”. “Guptill and myself, we did all the hard work then we got ourselves out.”

Guptill had let the majority of wide deliveries go through to Akmal but then had a rash swipe at a wide Tanvir Ahmed ball that only caught the edge of his bat.

Taylor also chased a full, wide Wahab Riaz delivery, the first of his new spell, and was well caught by a diving Akmal, who finished the day with five catches.

Taylor said Pakistan’s bowling tactics and defensive field placings had contributed to their downfall. “The spinner (Abdul Rehman) was always going to bowl very flat and not give you very much and from the top end they put a sweeper out pretty quickly,” he added.

“I wouldn’t say it was negative but it was trying to bore you out.”

New Zealand’s original plan had been to bat at least four sessions and the team were confident they could achieve that should wicketkeeper Reece Young (28) and captain Daniel Vettori (38) safely negotiate the first 10 overs on Sunday.

“Hopefully we can bat until after lunch tomorrow,” Taylor said. “It’s going to be tough that first five to 10 overs with the new ball but if we can get that then scores of 300 plus are very much on our radar.