Misbah wants more from Pakistan in power plays

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP):

Misbah-ul-Haq doesn't think Pakistan is making the most of its batting power plays at the World Cup and he is seeking an improvement against New Zealand today.

Despite winning their opening three Group A matches, Pakistan haven't been prolific enough in the power plays except against Kenya, when they scored 71 runs in five overs.

There was a sharp dip in Pakistan's scoring rate during power plays - when fielding restrictions are in place - against Sri Lanka and Canada.

The Pakistan batsman says his line-up needs to take powerplays more seriously "because whosoever performs well during this period wins big games in the World Cup".

Sri Lanka's Muttiah Murali-tharan gave away just five runs in his two overs during the power play as Misbah himself, suffering a strained hamstring, struggled to score freely.

Dismissed

Pakistan surprised by not using a batting power play when batsmen Misbah and Umar Akmal were batting against Canada and well set to push on.

By the time No. 8 Umar Gul and No. 11 Saeed Ajmal called for it, Pakistan had lost nine wickets and the last pair could only muster three runs before the team was dismissed for 184.

"We need to have a plan for that (power plays)," Misbah said. "Hopefully, we will have that against New Zealand tomorrow."

Misbah is in rich batting form with scores of 65, 83 and 37 in three matches. He also scored 203 runs in Pakistan's 3-2 series win against New Zealand before the World Cup and will be one of the prime targets of the New Zealanders today.

"They just can't target me," Misbah said with a smile. "Before me, there are three to four batsmen, and what if they get hundreds?"

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium has hosted a drawn Test match between West Indies and Sri Lanka in December that was badly affected by heavy rains. Today's game will be the first one-day international at the venue east of Kandy.

Clueless about wicket

New Zealand, however, have some idea of the wickets here as they played a practice one-dayer in August. They scored 276 runs and then skittled out Sri Lanka 'A' for 91 runs in that game.

But Misbah said Pakistan had no clue about the wicket, which looked to have some grass and bounce to assist fast bowlers.

"Of course, it will be tough," Misbah said. "We don't have stats of this ground and how it will behave, especially under lights.

"But you have to handle these things as professionals and handle them properly."

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has so far led from the front by capturing 14 wickets with his fastish leg-spinners, which include his four-wicket burst against Sri Lanka in 17 balls.

"Afridi is a difficult bowler to handle," Misbah said. "He has variation, especially in these conditions, he is gripping the ball well and its tough for batsmen to guess where the ball will go, how much it will drift.

"But other players are also required to play well and take pressure off the captain."

Pakistan openers Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad disappointed in the first three games, but both batsmen could take confidence after scoring centuries in the one-day series against the Kiwis.

"Here there is a lateral movement with the new white ball and the swing is also there," Hafeez said. "We don't lack in confidence, we both are trying to give a long partnership and I hope it's not that far."