Fleming hails rare trophy for bare
NZ cabinet
From Stuff, 24 May 2003
DAMBULLA: It might have been the middle of nowhere against
a second-string Pakistan team, but Stephen Fleming made
sure he savoured a rare grip on a cricket trophy yesterday.
Fleming led the Black Caps to just their second tournament
win in 30 years of one-day internationals with a four-wicket
victory over Pakistan in the Bank Alfalah Cup final
here.
Chasing 199 to win on the best pitch of the tri-series,
Fleming's 65 anchored the New Zealand effort and saw
the team home with 28 balls to spare despite losing
three wickets for 19 late in the chase.
Fleming was having no gloss taken off the win in remote
Dambulla, just his second taste of an overseas win since
the Champions Trophy in Nairobi nearly three years ago.
"Not at all, just to win against any subcontinent side
here is a major challenge and we're going to take a
lot of confidence from it," he said.
"We didn't have Shane Bond as well and some guys who
were good at playing spin, so it's a pretty good reflection
of the team that won."
New Zealand were missing Bond, out for several months
with a back stress fracture, along with the injured
Nathan Astle and the axed Craig McMillan.
Pakistan though were without almost an entire team
of frontliners including the just-retired Wasim Akram,
Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq,
Shahid Afridi, and notably suspended speedster Shoaib
Akhtar.
Spinner Daniel Vettori was given the kudos by being
named man of the series, claiming a Mitsubishi Lancer
vehicle for his 10 wickets at 11.8 and economy rate
of 2.46 runs per over.
The match attracted just 2000 with the home side absent
for the first time in their own final. The crowd included
a smattering of New Zealanders, namely a group of London-based
Hutt Valley fans with freshly made beige uniforms courtesy
of a local tailor.
Fleming got a rousing reception and was determined
to make amends for the way he held up the trophy in
Nairobi.
"I committed to Chris Cairns and the boys that I'd
do it with more conviction, and I was pretty happy with
it," he said.
Having scored just 56 runs in four previous innings
as the ball seamed everywhere, Fleming was determined
to win the final and top a memorable few months with
the willow.
He predicted a matchwinning batting effort at the team
meeting the night before, having already reached great
heights this year with career-bests of 134 not out against
South Africa at the World Cup and 274 not out in the
first test in Colombo last month.
"I'm delighted it was the innings of substance, it's
always nice as captain to do that and play a big hand
in winning the game. I'm disappointed I didn't finish
off because I pride myself on that."
Fleming's 65 took 111 balls but after a cautious start
he cut loose with three sixes off spinners Danish Kaneria
and Shoaib Malik and speedster Shabbir Ahmed.
He and Chris Nevin added 54 for the first wicket then
Fleming and Vincent added 59 before a mix-up saw Vincent
run out.
Things only got interesting with New Zealand cruising
at 151 for two when Fleming, Scott Styris and Jacob
Oram all departed with Mohammad Sami bearing down, but
Chris Cairns hit some meaty blows to finish it off.
"We played big shots at the right times and they weren't
able to put pressure on us because they had no wickets,"
Fleming said.
New Zealand's bowlers all chipped in, Daryl Tuffey
claiming his 11th first-over wicket in 51 one-dayers
to end with three for 32 while Jacob Oram returned from
a back injury to take three for 38 and end with eight
series wickets at 8.25 runs apiece.
Vettori took the big scalp of Malik for 34 but Younis
Khan anchored a useful total with 70 not out off 85
balls.
New Zealand fly home tomorrow night satisfied with
their tour which also saw them end a 10-match test winning
streak by Sri Lanka at home to draw the test series
0-0.
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