Cricket: Vettori demands series win

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori wants momentum to carry his inconsistent team to victory in the third and final one-day cricket international against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi tomorrow morning (NZT).

The Black Caps named an unchanged 12 for the decider, with the 12th man to be announced just prior to the start of the match.

A roller-coaster series hinges on the outcome after Pakistan romped to a 138-run on Wednesday before New Zealand hit back with a 64-run victory on Saturday.

Brendon McCullum finally found some form at the top of the order, with his 131 setting up a matchwinning tally of 303 for eight.

It was the sort of batting Vettori demands consistently and he hopes for more of the same now that New Zealand have adjusted to the benign conditions.

"We look for more improvement and will make sure that we head into this final game with more confidence and looking to put more pressure on Pakistan," Vettori told reporters.

His team have beaten Pakistan in seven of their last 10 one-days, including the Champions Trophy semifinal last month.

"We did well throughout the Champions Trophy as most of the games we played were must win games and we stepped up, so I hope the team does it one more time."

However, the veteran skipper was wary of Pakistan's hot-and-cold talents.

"Pakistan can come back hard on us, so we must be ready for that.

"But I think there's something left for us as well. A lot of guys, I suppose, need to perform on this tour and those who have performed need to do that once more."

McCullum will seek to repeat of the fireworks while, at the other end of the spectrum, middle-order batsman Ross Taylor is yet to score a run in the series.

Also under pressure is Pakistan captain Younus Khan, whose team have not won a one-day series since beating the West Indies last year.

Younus is also having a lean patch with the bat, scoring nought and 19 in the two matches - but coach Intikhab Alam backed his captain to come good when it matters.

"It can happen to any player," said Alam of Younus' wretched form which saw him scoring only two half-centuries in the last 18 matches.

"I am sure that he can come good anytime, maybe in this crucial, must-win game."

The 31-year-old replaced Shoaib Malik as captain after Pakistan lost a one-day series against Sri Lanka at home in January last year.

Under Younus, Pakistan have lost one-day series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates and against Sri Lanka (on tour) earlier this year.

Although Pakistan won the World Twenty20 in England in June and then reached the semifinal of the Champions Trophy, Younus had to offer his resignation over unproven match-fixing allegations last month and questions on his form.

Pakistan Cricket Board rejected his resignation, saying that Younus, if fit and performing, can continue as captain until the 2011 World Cup.

Alam said both Pakistan and New Zealand will be under pressure in the final match.

"Since it's a must win game for both the teams, whoever wins takes the series so both teams will be keen to perform and I hope my players raise their confidence and win this series, it's very important for us."

After the one-day series both teams move to Dubai where they play two Twenty20 matches on November 12 and 13.

Black Caps
Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Aaron Redmond, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Neil Broom, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, Tim Southee, Nathan McCullum. 12th man to be named.

- NZPA