Anything over 250 is a big ask - Chris Martin

Chris Martin said Peter Fulton was "unsure" whether he had hit the ball when he was given lbw © Getty Images


Related LinksPlayers/Officials: Chris Martin
Matches: New Zealand v Pakistan at Dunedin
Series/Tournaments: Pakistan tour of New Zealand
Teams: New Zealand | Pakistan


New Zealand's plan at the start of the fourth day in Dunedin would have been to dismiss the tailenders as soon as possible, take a sizeable lead, and then bat Pakistan out of the Test. They achieved their first objective by capturing a 97-run advantage but their quest to accomplish the second was ambushed by Pakistan's seamers and they limped to 147 for 8 before bad light ended play.

However, while acknowledging the missed opportunity to shut out Pakistan, fast bowler Chris Martin felt New Zealand's 244-run lead was nearly enough. "It wasn't a direction we wanted the game to head in but the opportunity is there tomorrow," Martin said. "We may have let an opportunity slip today by not batting them out of the game but, with the lead that we have and the runs that we've got now, the game is poised and is definitely there for us to take tomorrow.

"Anything over 250 on a wearing wicket with variable bounce is going to be a big ask for them, especially if we do everything in a disciplined manner. In the past, our bowling has given us more opportunity to win games and I think that's going to be the case tomorrow."


New Zealand's troubles on Friday were caused by Pakistan's fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer. They swung the ball conventionally, and reverse, cut it, seamed it and thoroughly examined the batsmen's technique. And Martin said he and the other New Zealand bowlers had learnt "quite a lot" by watching the carnage from the dressing room.

"They put us under pressure by bowling straight, making us make a lot of decisions and giving us very few opportunities to score," Martin said. "They got some nip by hitting the wicket hard and got it to wobble around a bit to make it do a little. If we are a thoughtful side, our bowling line-up in particular, we'll be able to take a lot from that and take it into tomorrow."

Martin also offered insight into a baffling moment during New Zealand's innings. Peter Fulton, making his comeback to the Test team, appeared to get an inside edge on to his pad against Umar Gul but he was given out lbw, reducing New Zealand to 91 for 4. Curiously, he didn't ask for a review and made his way off the University Oval.


"He was unsure whether he'd hit the ball," Martin explained. "It was a very fine edge and sometimes you think you hit your pad or your boot or the ground, it's hard to know. It's a new format and such a new part of the game that, like most things, it's going to take a while to get used to it and to get better at it. I think next time if you've got a hunch you'll pretty much go for it [the review]." New Zealand will want to make better use of the system on the final day.

http://www.cricinfo.com/nzvpak2009/...ory/436892.html

I think 250 will be a good score but we come back really well and batsmen like M.Yousuf, Umar/Kamran Akmal can get runs for us (InschAllah)

It depends what kind of start we get from our openers. If they can stitch together a good 50-60 run partnership we might actually win it.

We have to get them out as soon as possible on day 5 though.

yaar u really think we can have a start of 50-60 runs from openers?

and 2nd thing whenever we get good start from the openers our middle order didnt do well.

He's right.

As per usual, I have faith in our bowlers, but not our batters - and that is even with the bat!

No I don't think we can get a start of 50-60 runs.. in fact I don't think we can get a start of 10 runs from these two. I am just praying that it happens.

Well... we might as well start turning that tradition around right? Tomorrow we should go out there and see the openers and the middle order succeed together.

InschAllah

and i think both openers must be under pressure.

becuase of their first innings scores.

and thats why i really belive wo kuch nahi karne wale.. but i hope..

we will collapse and get out for 180.

We only need 1 quick wicket tomorrow, Martin himself won't last long, bowlers will be queuing up to bowl to him.

The target is quite difficult but I have absolute faith in the power of Akmal.

I have hope--->

To be honest i cant see pakistan chasing over 260 here! i can see pakistan folding for 160-80 tomorrow under the pressure.

I hope am wrong!

I think bad light and rain is the only thing which can really save the Kiwis from here.

The pitch is not wearing....it's still pretty good for batting. I'm confident we can chase anything less than 280.

Chances of Pak winning is not more than 25%.

It is a fair statement and we will have to bat well. I do think the top 3 (Farhat, Manzoor, Fawad) are going to have to make at least a 100-120 of these runs if we are to win though

Mind games.

A lot of PPer's seem to be affected by them.

Have you followed pakistan cricket over the past decade?

The past decade was also mind games.

Anyone remember whats the largest total Pakistan have succesfully chased in the 2nd inningsin an away test?

What optimism !

Idk, but I do remember the last time we came to NZ we easily chased 271 on the 4th/5th day so it isn't impossible.

this is the typical NZ tactic. they said stuff like that in the t20 and in the CT and in the last ODI/T20 series. this is just to put pressure on the opposing team and i am sure they know that a lead of 244 (with all of their recognized batsmen out)is not enough....

Yes I have but look at the pitch. It's not exactly a bowler's paradise.

I think we need to see out the first 15-20 overs at worst only one wicket down. Then not losing any wickets to Vettori in his opening spell.

Hope springs eternal.

Exactly. Perfectly said here by Juggernaut. Pakistan bowled brilliantly, NZ have to bowl even better than that to get Pakistan bowled out on day 5.

Well I think if a bowler bowls in the right areas it is not easy to bat on. Bond would be a handful for Pakistani batsmen especially those who are mentally vulnerable.

Exactly. Now a days every team has media personnel who tells them how to play these mind games and put pressure on the oppositions. In Aus and Eng and etc. even the media joins in support of such comments by players and officials.

I'm not worried about Vettori at all. Its Bond sneezing 150kph thunderbolts in a hostile spell to our top order that I'm worried about.

If we can survive that, we should be good to go. I'd back us to chase anything less than 300, its the psychological factor.

But speaking about the batting. They have to be cautious, but play aggressive cricket. Bond will be my biggest concern in the bowling. He can really crank up the pressure when required for NZ. But as of now Pakistan need to get 2 wickets ASAP, then just bat to win the match in the alloted overs.

He didn't had the the heart to say , "We'll get them below 150" .


Thanks Chris .