Gul’s record performance destroys Kiwis

LONDON: Pace bowler Umar Gul became the first bowler to claim five wickets in Twenty20 International cricket when helped Pakistan skittle New Zealand out for a meager total of 99 in 18.3 overs in their World Twenty20 Super Eights Group F match at the Oval here on Saturday.

Umar Gul captured five wickets for eight runs from three overs, eclipsing previous best of 4-07 by Mark Gillespie of New Zealand against Kenya at Durban in 2007.

After New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat on a good batting wicket, Pakistani bowlers never let them play freely and bundled them out for 99.

Only Scott Styris (22), Aaron Redmond (15) and Brendon McCullum (12) could enter into double figures.

Abdul Razzaq, playing for the first time in the tournament after being called up as a replacement for Yasir Arafat, made the initial breakthrough and bagged two wickets in his first two overs.

Mohammad Aamer and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each.

Left-arm spinner Vettori was playing his first match of the tournament following a shoulder injury but batsman Ross Taylor again missed out with a hamstring strain.

Pakistan omitted opener Salman Butt to play 19-year-old rookie Shahzaib Hasan and brought in all-rounder Abdur Razzaq in place of Sohail Tanvir.

Pakistan, who lost their first Super Eights match to Sri Lanka on Friday, need a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

New Zealand thrashed Ireland by 83 runs at Trent Bridge on Thursday and will virtually book a place in the last four if they beat Pakistan.