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February 14, 2012 / Posted in  England, Pakistan

Wednesday, February 15, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Start time 1500 (1100 GMT)

Pakistan v England, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi Match Facts and Predictions

England look for further release

Alastair Cook became the first England batsman to outscore the opposition in the first ODI

Immediately after the opening match attention turned largely to England: they found release from a troubled Test series with victory by 130 runs; Alastair Cook underlined himself once more as a captain eminently capable of adapting to 50-over cricket with an unflustered century compiled at almost a run a ball; and Steve Finn’s fast-bowling development was clear to see as his four new-ball wickets confirmed England’s superiority.

But what of Pakistan? Their batting vulnerabilities were masked as their spinners dominated the Test series but they were apparent again as they found Finn’s opening burst impossible to contain...

February 5, 2012 / Posted in  New Zealand, Zimbabwe

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI, Whangarei Nicol leads batting blitz as NZ seal series

Jacob Oram ignited New Zealand’s charge with the bat, and snuffed out Zimbabwe’s chase with the ball

New Zealand cruised to a 141-run victory after amassing 372 for 6 at Whangarei’s Cobham Oval, and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series. Their mammoth innings was grounded by Rob Nicol’s 146, and launched by Jacob Oram’s 28-ball 59, with Martin Guptill’s 77 providing the early spark. Zimbabwe’s thin hopes evaporated when three wickets fell in the first seven overs of their chase, and their innings meandered to 231 for 8 in 50 overs. Such was the magnitude of the drubbing, that in response to a New Zealand effort that featured 29 fours and 16 sixes, Zimbabwe managed only two fours until the 28th over of the chase.

Following a 131-run opening stand from Nicol and Guptill, Oram’s belligerence propelled New Zealand’s pace from brisk to frenetic, and flattened the opposition...