Kiwis prepare to face Afridi, Ajmal in must-win game

Abu Dhabi: Outclassed by Pakistan in Tuesday's opening match, the Kiwis worked hard over the last two days and will be hoping to win today to level the three-match series.

Daniel Vettori and his boys called for some UAE-based club spinners and both on Wednesday as well as yesterday, three Pakistani spinners kept bowling at the nets while the Kiwis prepared to handle Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal in today's must-win game.

After letting the Pakistani batsmen off the hook, the Kiwis suffered at the hands of the pacemen and were reduced to 50 for 4 by the 16th over, but they are more focused on working out Afridi and Ajmal.

Martin Guptil said after nets yesterday: "It was the spinners who made it difficult and we have been working on that. We know it is a must-win game for us and we will go out there and play some hard cricket."

"After the first match we can look back and say that now we know the conditions, how the wicket is playing and what is a gettable and defendable total, so we must realise that its a must win game for us, to keep the series alive," skipper Vettori had said earlier.

The toss will play a crucial role and Vettori will be hoping he gets to bat first as the 3pm start can be energy-sapping, another reason which made the Kiwis train in the afternoon over the last two days.

"It is war. We had got used to such weather in Sri Lanka but we went home after that. Now we are a bit more used to it after our stay in Dubai and then here. We are adapting well," added Guptil.

While Vettori is hoping his batsmen come good and his bowlers restrict the solid batting line-up of Pakistan, rival skipper Younus Khan is in a much happier spot as he eyes a series win today.

Depth in batting

Despite his poor form, the depth in the Pakistan batting which is filled with strokemakers, will ease the pressure but at the back of his mind will be his team's display against Australia in their last series here.

Younus and his boys lost matches when they were well-placed for a win and it is this lack of consistency which the team will have to guard against.

Pakistan have not won a ODI series since beating the West Indies 3-0 here last year. Since then, Pakistan have lost to Sri Lanka (home and away) and against Australia here.

"We will definitely try to wrap up the series in the second match and then there is a chance of a clean sweep," said Younus.