Santner wary of Pakistan's quality

The Black Caps listen to a Maori welcome as they arrive at Dunedin Airport yesterday. Photos: Gerard O'Brien
The Black Caps listen to a Maori welcome as they arrive at Dunedin Airport yesterday. Photos: Gerard O'Brien
Mitch is not expecting any help from the pitch. But then again, Black Caps all-rounder Mitchell Santner might not need any help.

Black Caps all-rounder Mitchell Santner: Ideally we would like to wrap it up here and take a 3-0 lead.
Black Caps all-rounder Mitchell Santner: ''Ideally we would like to wrap it up here and take a 3-0 lead''.

He has been bowling pretty well of late and, whatever conditions await the left-arm spinner at Dunedin's University Oval on Saturday, he will rely on flight and subtle changes in pace to keep the Pakistan batsmen under pressure.

''I've played a couple of test matches [at the University Oval] but obviously I'm yet to see what the one-day wicket is going to be like,'' he said.

''Hopefully it spins, but I don't think so.''

All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme's return from bereavement leave will create a selection dilemma for coach Mike Hesson. He was in terrific form during the test series against the West Indies last month and it will be interesting to see whether he features in the starting XI.

Santner and legspinner Todd Astle have played in the opening two ODIs against Pakistan and done well.

Santner looked in impressive form with one for 34 in New Zealand's eight-wicket in Nelson earlier this week. And Astle bowled particularly well in the opening ODI against the West Indies before Christmas.

Either would be unlucky to miss the match.

The Black Caps opted to play two spinners the last time the team was in Dunedin. But that was for a test match and the temptation to include the big-hitting de Grandhomme could prove hard to resist.

''I'm not sure [if they will play two spinners]. Obviously we will have to weigh that up during the next couple of days at training and see what the wicket is going to be like,'' Santner said.

''If it is going to spin, then maybe. But we will have to wait and see.

''Obviously [de Grandhomme] is a very good player and an asset in the one-day side. He's an all-rounder who can be quite destructive with the bat as well.

''We'll weigh up how he is going and what the pitch is going to be like. But, yeah, I'm pretty sure he will go straight back in.''

The Black Caps will not want to tinker with the line-up too much, though. The team is unbeaten at home this summer and has an opportunity to clinch the five-game ODI series against Pakistan with a win in game three this weekend.

''Ideally we would like to wrap it up here and take a 3-0 lead. But we know they are going to be strong. They are going to come out firing, so we have to keep improving on what we've been doing.

''The intensity in the field is something we are trying to work on. We are playing pretty well at the moment but we can always be that little bit better.''

While the Black Caps' confidence levels are soaring, there is also a feeling that Pakistan has more to give.

''They are a quality side. I think they had nine wins in a row before in one-day cricket and they won the Champions Trophy.

''We know they can play very well but I guess we've been on top of them a little bit of late, so hopefully we can keep that ball rolling.''

The Black Caps have picked a good venue for that. The team is undefeated in five ODI games and eight tests at the University Oval.

 

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