Struggling top order major concern for Pakistan ahead of big-ticket clash

Three hundred balls to chase 320 is a fairly gettable equation in this age of T20 cricket but since we are talking Pakistan, nothing can be straightforward.

- Somshuvra Laha

KOLKATA: More so when they themselves elect to chase, thinking that dew would give their innings a leg-up in the humid Karachi evening. All good tactically but alarmingly lacking was any heft from the top-four batters that could have made the chase watchable.

So pronounced was that deficiency in the first Powerplay - they were 22/2 after 10 overs, their lowest Powerplay score in six years, and the lowest for any home team in ODI history - that New Zealand just needed to stick to their lines and the climbing required run rate did the rest.

Which is at odds with the narrative Pakistan have recently set as a batting team, now that they are cornered into a must-win situation against India on Sunday. Just over a week ago, Pakistan scripted their highest ever ODI chase (also at Karachi), scaling South Africa's 352/5 with an over to spare. There too Pakistan had lost two wickets in the first Powerplay but still scored 91.