New Zealand may have not lost an one-day international (ODI) to Pakistan for four years, but captain Kane Williamson is not taking anything for granted when the sides take to the field in Abu Dhabi today.
The Black Caps have won their past 11 games in the 50-over format against Pakistan, a run that stretches back to when they last toured the UAE in 2014.
Confidence should be high ahead of the start of the three-match series at Zayed Cricket Stadium, but Williamson said: "It’s a new series and a fresh start.
“I guess it’s a nice stat to have but at the end of the day, come tomorrow, it’s what happens on the day.”
While New Zealand may be strong in ODIs they have struggled in Twenty20 clash and come into Wednesday's match on the back of being beaten 3-0 by Pakistan in their series in that version of the game.
But despite their struggles in T20s, Williamson believes that not everything was a negative from those three losses.
“There were some really good parts in that T20 series we can take forward,” he said.
“If you look at the first two games. They could have gone either way and the conversation we are having could have been quite different, but it wasn’t to be and we did go down 3-0. I must say Pakistan played really well.
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“It’s important we learn from that and take the positives. I guess the conditions adapting to them after a long break is one.
“Then we saw quick adjustments from the guys and small margins we do and be clinical on that, then the outcome or the result can change. For us, it’s just execute our plans as well as we can, knowing what works well for us and fine-tuning it as well.”
Trent Boult, the left arm seamer is returning to the side after the birth of a child to his wife, and Williamson said he can strengthen the bowling.
“He’s an experience bowler, brings in pace and swing, and an aggressive option for us,” he said.
The Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said the momentum was with them going into the series.
“This series is very important for us as we want to take the ODI team on the path to improvement, keeping in mind the 2019 World Cup,” he said.
“However, we are not looking beyond this series at the moment. New Zealand are a very competitive side and they have shown that by giving us a tough time in the T20 series.
“Their ODI has lot of experienced players. Trent Bolt is back in the side, Tom Latham is there and even Henry Nicholls. These are the players who have been performing well for them.”
Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
Januzaj's club record
Manchester United 50 appearances, 5 goals
Borussia Dortmund (loan) 6 appearances, 0 goals
Sunderland (loan) 25 appearances, 0 goals
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Bernardo Silva 16', Sterling 57', Gundogan 79'
Bournemouth 1
Wilson 44'
Man of the match: Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
