MOUNT MAUNGANUI – New Zealand once again outclassed Pakistan and completed clean sweep in the three-match ODI series on Saturday.
Chasing the target of 265 runs set by New Zealand, Pakistan’s batting faltered yet again, and the entire team was bowled out for 221 runs in the 40th over. New Zealand won the match by 43 runs.
Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam gave Pakistan a solid start with a 73-run opening partnership, but no significant stand followed. Apart from Babar Azam, no Pakistani batter managed to score a half-century.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan scored 37 runs while Abdullah Shafique and Tayyab Tahir contributed 33 runs each.
For New Zealand, Ben Sears was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5 wickets, while Jacob Duffy claimed 2. Michael Bracewell, Mohammad Abbas, and Daryl Mitchell took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, in a rain-affected match played on a damp outfield, New Zealand batted first and posted 264 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 42 overs.
Kiwi captain Michael Bracewell top-scored with 59 runs.
For Pakistan, Aaqif Javed took 4 wickets, and Naseem Shah dismissed 2 batters.
Pakistan started their innings with Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, but Imam was forced to retire hurt early in the innings after being struck on the face by a fielder’s throw.
Pakistan had reached 59 runs without loss in 13 overs, with Abdullah Shafique on 26 and Babar Azam on 25 at the crease.
New Zealand had already secured a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Playing Xis:
New Zealand: 1 Nick Kelly, 2 Rhys Mariu, 3 Henry Nicholls, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tim Seifert, 6 Michael Bracewell (capt), 7 Muhammad Abbas, 8 Mitchell Hay (wk), 9 Jacob Duffy, 10 Ben Sears, 11 Will O’Rourke
Pakistan: 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), 5 Salman Ali Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir, 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Mohammad Wasim Jr, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Sufiyan Muqeem, 11 Akif Javed
