PALLEKELE - A big crowd of Sri Lankan turned up at the Pallekele Stadium to cheer favourites Pakistan in the crucial group A match of the 2011 world cricket cup but their loyalty turned to New Zealand when Ross Taylor hit masterly unbeaten 131 to celebrate his 27th birthday to win the hearts of local fans as his team reached huge 302 for seven wickets in its innings here on Tuesday. Pakistan which recently defeated New Zealand at home by good 3-2 margin and holds head to head meetings with 51 wins as against 34 losses in 88 times they met started favourites against the Kiwis. However when Daniel Vittory decided to bat after winning the toss, the decision looked fraught with risk. However, Ross Taylor with a fantastic innings of 124 balls hit eight fours and seven sixes to destroy Pakistani bowling which included skipper Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar who finished with one for 70. Shahid Afridi who in the last two matches had twice taken five wicket hauls took just one for 55.