khurramdar
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Vettori - We are underdogs
Black Caps skipper out to defy the doubters
Last updated: 2nd October 2009
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believes the cricketing world is expecting his side to crash out of the ICC Champions Trophy when they come up against Pakistan at the Wanderers.
The Black Caps and Pakistan meet in Johannesburg on Saturday in what is the Kiwis eighth major semi-final in 15 International Cricket Council events.
However Vettori's men head into Saturday's last four clash as underdogs against a Pakistan side looking to reach their second major final of the year.
Younus Khan led his troops to World Twenty20 glory in England in June and marshalled his side to victories over West Indies and India to book their place back at Johannesburg.
Speaking ahead of the showdown Vettori, who himself guided his side to victories over Sri Lanka and England to progress, said: "It's a much preferable way to go into a semi-final, knowing that we've won two big games.
"Maybe in the past, we've sort of scraped through, but I think we've done well.
"We qualified top and now we can go into the Pakistan game with a lot a lot of confidence knowing that the guys have performed well in the last two games."
The left-arm off-spinner also claims that victory over Pakistan would be one of the more "satisfying" wins of his distinguished career.
Inconsistent
"I suppose there's always an expectation for a New Zealand team to make a semi-final, and then there's also an expectation for us to lose that semi-final," he said.
"But we really want to go past that, we really want to change the script a little bit. For me personally, it would be one of the more satisfying things I could do in my career to lead a New Zealand team to a world final.
"And then once you get to that stage, you never know what can happen." While being wary of the threat posed by the Pakistanis, Vettori is also hoping to catch them on an off day.
He said: "Their spin bowling has been very impressive over the last year or so. I think (Shahid) Afridi and (Saeed) Ajmal have combined exceptionally well and they've coupled that with a very good seam bowling attack and no obvious weakness in their batting.
"So we know they can be a very good side, but I suppose like us, they've been a little bit inconsistent and we'll be hoping that we just catch them on that off day."
The New Zealanders have been plagued by injuries through the tournament, losing Jacob Oram (hamstring), Jesse Ryder (groin) and Daryl Tuffey (broken hand), and have a fresh injury worry over all-rounder Grant Elliott (thumb).
But Vettori insists that Elliott's injury has not interrupted their preparations. "I think it's a little bit of a tough one. The injection works when he bats, but it doesn't work when he bowls. We'll probably leave it to the last possible minute before we make a decision," he said.
"It is frustrating, but I think we're actually used to it. We had to go through it at the Twenty20 World Cup and I've been through it before with the New Zealand team.
"So if anything, it's probably brought the group a little bit tighter and there is realisation that the senior players have to step up even more to cover for the constant turnover of the team."
Pakistan captain Younus knows that the game against the Black Caps will not be a walkover and has singled out opposite number Vettori as the dangerman for his side.
Fantastic
He said: "They are a fantastic team, especially their fielding over the past couple of years, and are similar to Sri Lanka.
"Whenever they have pressure, they rise together and perform as a team. At the moment, they have a couple of good options in the bowling and a couple of good all-rounders as well.
"Their captain has always been fantastic with the ball and now he's also batting very well. So I think it will be good to play against them and we can expect a good game."
The New Zealanders, who topped Group B, have a 100 per cent record at the ground so far having claimed their two wins at the bowler-friendly venue, while their only defeat came at Centurion.
In contrast, Pakistan's only game in Johannesburg saw them make heavy weather of a four-wicket triumph over a second-string West Indies.
Younus, though, does not believe that his side will be at a disadvantage. "These days, there is nothing like that, especially in games like this," he said.
"The main thing is that whenever you play against any team in a semi-final or final, it doesn't matter.
"If we play our natural game again tomorrow and if we stick to our plan, then I think we will be through."