Elliot, Vettori see New Zealand through to final by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Scorecard:	New Zealand v Pakistan
Player:	Umar Akmal, Mohammad Aamer, GD Elliott, DL Vettori, IG Butler
Event:	ICC Champions Trophy 2009/10

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DateLine: 3rd October 2009

 

New Zealand finally rid themselves of the semi-final blues, beating favoured Pakistan by five wickets to coast into the final of the Champions Trophy with deceptive ease, thanks to a fine stand between Grant Elliot (75 not out) and skipper Daniel Vettori (41).

 

Pakistan couldn’t capitalise on winning the toss, being unable to negotiate the New Zealand seamers and were on the backfoot from the beginning, losing their way despite a decent opening start, and falling well short of par score on the Wanderers track.

 

Ian Butler claimed four wickets and Vettori snared three as Pakistan were pegged back by some good bowling and fielding and injudicious shots. After a decent start, Pakistan came apart with only the veteran Mohammed Yousuf and young Umar Akmal were the only ones to impress. In fact, Pakistan needed some work from the last pair of Mohd Aamer and Saeed Ajmal to get anything like a fighting score.

 

New Zealand overcame their mind block about spin and negotiated Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik well, while the fast bowlers were also hit around, apart from Aamer. Elliot and Vettori, coming up the order, were involved in a fine 104-run stand to ensure that the Kiwis overcame some moments of doubt to make the final.