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| Younis targets one-day series win against Kiwis |
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Friday, November 06, 2009
ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Younis Khan believes victory against New Zealand is within his team's grasp when the two teams meet in the second day-night international of their current series on Friday (today).
Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after their convincing 138-run win in the first match here on Tuesday.
"It would be great if we win the second match and with it the series, and that would be our first series win for one year," said Younis. "It is important that we keep the winning momentum."
Under Younis Pakistan have this year lost against Australia and Sri Lanka (away). Their last one-day series win was against the West Indies, a 3-0 victory in Abu Dhabi in November last year.
Since then Pakistan lost a home series to Sri Lanka in January - which led to Younis taking over as captain from Shoaib Malik.
"The victory in the first match (against New Zealand) looked easy but after the first 10 overs we were in trouble," said Younis of Tuedsay's poor start, in which Pakistan lost two wickets, including his own, with no runs on the board.
Opener Khalid Latif (64) added 57 for the third wicket with Mohammad Yousuf (30) and 101 for the fifth with Shahid Afridi (70) before Kamran Akmal punished New Zealand with a quick-fire, 43-ball 67 to help Pakistan reach 287-9 in 50 overs.
In reply, New Zealand were out for a paltry 149.
"We realise that we have to win this (second) game," said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, whose bowlers conceded 107 runs in the last 10 overs of the first match.
"If we manage to restrict them to 230-240 it would be great," said Vettori, who praised Pakistan's spin duo of Afridi and Saeed Ajmal.
"Afridi has got to another level as a bowler and the partnership he is forming with Ajmal is the real key to Pakistan's success," said Vettori.
"We played Ajmal in the Champions Trophy and know we can handle him."
Pacemen Kyle Mills and James Franklin - who both missed the first match because of injuries - practised with the team on Thursday and Vettori hoped they would be available for selection.
The third match will also be played here on Monday before the two teams move to Dubai for two Twenty20 Internationals, on November 12 and 13.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
