Vettori surprised by Gul's performance by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	Umar Gul, Younis Khan, DL Vettori
Event:	ICC World Twenty20 2009

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DateLine: 14th June 2009

 

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori expressed surprise by the kind of bowling Umar Gul produced. Right-hand medium pacer Gul became the first bowler in the history of T20 internationals to claim five wickets in an innings. His brilliant spell wreaked havoc as the Black Caps were bundled out for just 99.

 

Gul was brought on to bowl as late as the 13th over and at that stage New Zealand were already precariously placed at 72/4. He then removed Scott Styris and Peter McGlashan in his first over. His next scalps were Nathan McCullum, James Franklin and Kyle Mills as he finished with a fifer giving away only six runs.

 

"I've never seen someone reverse-swing the ball after 12 overs and he managed to do that, which made all the difference," said Vettori.

 

"I don't think anyone has done that in the history of Twenty20 cricket. He was a difficult proposition. It was a good wicket with plenty of runs in it but we couldn't put a score on the board. We were under constant pressure from Pakistan and could not get any momentum going," Vettori added.

 

"Twenty20 is about taking risks and sometimes you meet a team who are bowling well and it doesn't come off. We knew we needed about 180 to compete and it wasn't our day."

 

Pakistan in their reply finished the game with more than six overs to spare. With the win and only Ireland to play next, Pakistan have a huge chance of qualifying for the last four. Their skipper Younis Khan was elated by the side's performance in the do-or-die match and was especially happy with Umar Gul's effort with the leather.