I guess we can consider last night's effort in the 3rd ODI between the Black Caps and Pakistan as the complete opposite to the 2nd. While in the 2nd ODI we had a bunch of lads really stepping up and performing with World Cup spots on the line, last night we saw that they have a fair way to go.

The signs were there however in the 2nd ODI, the amount of loose deliveries was high and they couldn't really combine wicket taking with building pressure. Where the short ball worked wonders in the 2nd ODI, it result in boundaries being served up on a platter that Ahmed Shehzad devoured. Just on Shehzad, thank God, Allah, Jah and Buddha that he is back playing cricket after wearing a delivery on the helmet, how things could have been very different. Make no mistake, he's Pakistan's Virat Kohli.

None of our young pace bowling group really looked impressive. Too short, too full or too wide. Matt Henry still picked up 3 wickets which was good, but once again he nor any of the other bowlers could do much in the way of containing Pakistan.

We got a good look at the side with Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham taking on more responsibility, but they didn't really respond. Stick with them though, I'd pick them both in the remaining games to see what they're made of. Neesham's having a shit old time, but this is the perfect time to let him work himself out of this hole.

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I'm warming to the idea of Nathan McCullum and Daniel Vettori playing alongside each other. Neither are big turners, so it doesn't really matter about the conditions because their work is done in the air. McCullum was again handy, but in tandem with another 'dot em up' type of bowler I reckon they'll dominate the middle overs.

Our batting is a conundrum. On the one hand, you get slightly worried because Martin Guptill failed, as did Antony Devcich ... to build a case for selection you need to not only get runs but get them consistently. On the other hand, the staples of the batting line up are doing alright - Kane Williamson got a 40 odd, Ross Taylor got 31 and Luke Ronchi again got runs. When does Tom Latham get a chance at the top of the order? I'd like to see that.

The Black Caps were thoroughly out-played, which happens. But we know, thanks to the rotation of players that they are giving guys opportunities to show Mike Hesson and Brendon McCullum what they've got to offer. With that rotation, comes a lack of cohesion and results like this happen. What's more worry-worthy is that the guys who were given a chance, didn't step up.

Kane Williamson is a gun captain though. Supremely talented with the bat, Williamson's a follow me type of leader and thanks to him being a cricketing maestro (his fielding is top shelf), it's hard not to follow him. To be honest, it's a pleasure to watch him lead.