It would not be unkind to say that this was perhaps one of the top three worst batting, unimpressive displays of the tournament and unfortunately it had to come in the ICC Champions Trophy final in South Africa.
not good nz
New Zealand stormed into the final on the back of beating England in thrilling fashion. Yet they appeared far from inspired in coming into the final, not by the manner in which they batted. If they had every intention of beating their Trans Tasmanian rivals, the enthusiasm was missing.
The first ten overs were perhaps the most testing because runs came at less than two runs an over, poor even by Test standards. Thereafter although Martin Guptill and Aaron Redmond built a sixty-one run partnership for the second wicket, it would be a while before another equally nourishing partnership was forthcoming.
Australia strangled their neighbours, then squeezed out the wickets with their spinner, Nathan Hauritz, who had three to show for himself at the end of the day. New Zealand appeared to be going nowhere and every time the ignition turned out, the car simply failed to get going.
Guptill was the top scorer of the innings on forty as Brendon McCullum, the stand in captain, suffered an ignominious duck, this after hanging around for ten deliveries. Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle all combined for a pace attack that were miserly with runs and ruthless with their bowling.
Neil Broom and James Franklin tried to inject new life into a team that was seriously stagnating and their sixty-five run partnership for the sixth wicket got New Zealand to edge to 200 for nine.
On a pitch that gave Hauritz hope, it is a bitter blow that New Zealand have lost their captain, Daniel Vettori, to a hamstring.
Allegations of Pakistan's Ball Tampering Resurface
Pictures of a Crest Fallen Pakistan
CT Semi Final 2: New Zealand, Elliot Score Past Pakistan
CT Semi Final 1: England Succumb to Ponting, Watson Centuries
CT Eng v Aus Half Time: England Resurrected; But Is It Enough to Hurt Australia?
South Africa Searching for Answers, Specialists, Hypnotists Perhaps?
Bresnan Blows His Top Lid, Flower Seals it Shut
Ravi Shastri Vents Ire on Indian Selectors
CT Semi Final 1 Fifteen Overs: Australia Have the Mark on England
Akram Makes it to Hall of Fame, But Shame for Dhoni
WC Grace: Latest Entrant to ICC's Hall of Fame!
Strauss Slams Smith, Applauds Vettori
ICC Champions Trophy Semi Finals Face Off!
CT India Beat WI, But Was Anyone Interested?
India's fortunes Mistimed: Sachin Out!
CT Pak v Aus: Aussie-Pak Thriller Denies India Even a Slim Chance
CT NZ v Eng: New Zealand Stampede England for Semi Final spot
CT Ind v Aus Rain Break: Game Gone With the Wind, Really!
Cheerleaders Of Another Encounter
Super Sunday Turns to Sorrow Day for SA Cricket, ICC Champions Trophy
CT Eng v SL: Hosts Out of Tournament But Not Because of Smith
CT Ind V Aus Preview: Dhoni Resigned to Losing Toss
CT Eng v SA: South Africa Have to Climb Higher To Get to Table Mountain
CT NZ V SL Full Time: New Zealand Complete Day's Heroics
CT SL V NZ Half Time: Injured Ryder Raises Team; NZ Win Could make it Interesting
CT Ind V Pak Full Time: India Lose Grip, Pakistan Have Their Revenge
CT Ind V Pak Half Time: Mallik Century Takes Pakistan to Strong Total
CT Aus v WI Full Time: West Indies Nearly Run Australia Out
CT Aus V WI Half Time: Johnson Destroys Windies' Effort
CT Ind V Pak Preview: Pak Win Toss, Elect to Bat First
CT Eng v SL Full Time: Collingwood Answers Critics with Match Winning Effort
CT New Zealand news: Oram Out, Franklin Called in
CT Ind v Pak: A Rare Clash on the Cards, What Do the Cards Foretell?
CT AUS v WI Preview: Bracken , Clarke Out, Ponting Worries for Future
Champions League Twenty20 Schedule
Champions League Twenty20: Teams Line Up For Feast
CT Eng v SL Half Time: England Bowlers Batter Sri Lanka
Kirsten Says Not Me, It was Paddy Upton
CT Sa V NZ Full Time: AB de Villiers Steers SA to Points Table
CT SA v NZ: Parnell, Van Der Merwe Peg New Zealand Progress
South African Murmurs About Centurion
CT PAK v WI Full Time: WI Bowlers Put Pak Under Duress
Yuvraj, Younis: Broken Fingers Across Borders
CT PAK v WI Half Time: Pak Bowlers Enjoy Workout
Kirsten's Mantra for India: Sex!
India Have Yuvraj Singh on Serious Injury List
ICC Champions Trophy Points Table and News in the Run Up
CT PAK v WI Preview: Shahid's Moment to Shine
CT SA v SL Full Time: Hosts Suffer Shock Defeat
CT SA v SL Half Time: Hosts Face Stiff Target
CT SA v SL Preview: SA Want Good Start, Despite Losing Gibbs
Rahul Slams Preparations, Defies Fears After Loss
CT Teams Group B-South Africa Want it More Than Any One Else
Related Stories
CT Semi Final 2: New Zealand, Elliot Score Past Pakistan
Pakistan's varied attack could do nothing against the determined New Zealand that despite the fragility of their situation, made it across the line to break years' old jinx. Despite Pakistan's false start of forty-six for no less, Pakistan...
CT NZ v Eng: New Zealand Stampede England for Semi Final spot
What drama to the finish. After making a dramatic start of their intention, New Zealand overcame a last minute situation mission to make the semi final spot from Group B. The ICC Champions Trophy saw Sri Lanka holding tight to their chairs...
CT New Zealand news: Oram Out, Franklin Called in
The injury lists keep piling on. Now it is New Zealand's turn and unfortunately Jacob Oram is out without a match under his belt in South Africa. Oram missed the first Group B match against South Africa supposedly with a hamstring strain. But...
Sri Lanka Silence New Zealand to Make the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Final in Mumbai
It may have ended a little too close for comfort for Sri Lanka. But they had had generally the stronger hold on the match as New Zealand lost the battle for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final. The Sri Lanka v New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup...
Virat Kohli And Co. Enjoy Bike Ride before Formula One Racing ( See Pics)
Is it not known that the Indian cricketers can also love demons of speed? Even as some of the Indian cricket team will fly to Noida for the first Formula One Indian Grand Prix, they did enjoy bike rides, although not on the circuit, with the keys firmly w
