Pakistan seal victory in ODI series against New Zealand

Men In Green win first series in 12 years against New Zealand; home side leads five-match series 3-0

Sports Desk

May 03, 2023

Pakistans cricketers celebrate after runout of New Zealands Tom Blundell (in black jersey) during the third ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on May 3, 2023. — AFP — Pakistan's cricketers celebrate after runout of New Zealand's Tom Blundell (in black jersey) during the third ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on May 3, 2023. — AFP

Pakistan win first series in 12 years against New Zealand.
The Men In Green now lead five-match ODI series 3-0.
Green Shirts' bowling attack outclasses New Zealand.

Pakistan's bowling attack put up a spectacular show Wednesday, helping the home side bowl out New Zealand for 261 and win the third ODI by 26 runs in Karachi.

The win means that Pakistan have now sealed the five-match series 3-0 — their first in 12 years against the Kiwis.

Set to chase 288 runs, New Zealand kept losing wickets after regular intervals. Openers Tom Blundell and Will Young provided a good start to their side, but their departure was followed by a couple of quick wickets.

Blundell scored the highest 65 runs for New Zealand. Skipper Tom Latham made 45 runs, whereas, Cole McConchie resisted a bit in the end but couldn't take New Zealand over the victory line. He scored 63 not out, including six boundaries and two maximums.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Naseem Shah bagged two wickets each. Agha Salman bagged one wicket.

After being put to bat in the first innings, left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq led Pakistan from the front amid controlled bowling by New Zealand to restrict the home side to 287-6.

Fakhar Zaman, who scored two consecutive centuries in the first two ODIs of this series, departed earlier. The left-handed batter didn't find rhythm in today's contest and had to leave after giving away his wicket to Matt Henry.

Imam continued his form from the previous two matches and built momentum alongside skipper Babar Azam. The two batters shared the crease for an eye-catching partnership of 108 runs. Meanwhile, Babar completed his 26th fifty but couldn't get to his 5,000 ODI runs. He is just 19 runs short of this milestone.

On the other hand, Imam was looking good to finally score a century in this series. But, he once again fell on nervous 90. His innings included seven boundaries and a six.

Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman, in the end, tried to score some runs for Pakistan. They both scored 54 runs together.

Shadab Khan (21*) and Mohammad Nawaz (11*) played cameos, in the end, to help Pakistan put up a defendable total.

For New Zealand, Henry picked up three wickets while Adam Milne bagged two scalps. Cole McConchie also managed to take a wicket.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah

New Zealand: Will Young, Tom Blundell (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c), Mark Chapman, Henry Nicholls, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry