Tri-Nation Series: New Zealand defeat Pakistan by five wickets in final

• Williamson put together 71-run partnership with Conway.
• Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham scored half-centuries.
• Visitors chase down modest target with 28 balls to spare.
  

Pakistan faced a five-wicket defeat by New Zealand as the visitors easily chased a 243-run target to win the Tri-Nation Series final played at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi, on Friday.

Will O'Rourke's four-wicket haul, followed by half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham, led New Zealand to win the ODI tri-series.

Chasing a modest 243-run target, the visitors comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of five wickets and 28 balls to spare.

The Blackcaps, however, got off to a contrasting start to the pursuit as their opener Will Young (five) fell victim to Naseem Shah in the second over with just five runs on the board.

Following the early hiccup, Kane Williamson put together an anchoring 71-run partnership for the second wicket with Devon Conway to put his side in a comfortable position.

All-rounder Salman Ali Agha broke the threatening partnership in the 18th over by getting rid of Williamson, who scored a sensible 34 off 49 deliveries with the help of three fours and a six.

Conway was then involved in a brief 31-run partnership with Mitchell before falling victim to Naseem just before the halfway mark.

The left-handed opener scored 48 off 74 deliveries, laced with five boundaries.

Mitchell then partnered with wicketkeeper Latham to add 87 runs to the total and put New Zealand in a comfortable position.

The match-defining stand ended with Mitchell's dismissal soon after amassing his half-century. He remained the top-scorer for New Zealand with 57 off 58 deliveries with the help of six boundaries.

Latham, on the other hand, walked back in the 45th over when his side needed 11 more runs to clinch the victory. He smashed five boundaries on his way to a 64-ball 56.

In-form Glenn Phillips gave the final touches to the run chase and powered them over the line in the 46th over with an unbeaten cameo of 20.

For Pakistan, Naseem took two wickets, while Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Agha shared three between them.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan managed to accumulate 242 before getting bowled out in 49.3 overs despite an anchoring fourth-wicket partnership between skipper Mohammad Rizwan and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha.

The home side got off to a shaky start to their innings as their in-form opener Fakhar Zaman fell victim to Will O’Rourke in the fourth over with just 16 runs on the board.

Following the early hiccup, Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam put together a brief 30-run partnership until both perished in quick succession, bringing the total down to 54/3 in 11.5 overs.

Saud made a scratchy 14-ball eight, while Babar scored 29 off 34 deliveries with the help of five boundaries including a six.

Pakistan’s in-form batters Agha and Rizwan then tried to launch the recovery by adding 88 runs to the total.

The crucial stand culminated with Rizwan's dismissal in the 32nd over, while Agha followed suit five overs later, resulting in Pakistan slipping to 161/5.

Rizwan remained the top-scorer for the home side with a cautious 46 off 76 deliveries, laced with four fours and a six, while Agha made a 65-ball 45 with the help of one four and a six.

Middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir knitted a one-sided partnership with Khushdil Shah before both perished in the span of eight deliveries.

Tayyab smashed five boundaries including a six on his way to a 33-ball 38.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf and tailender Naseem Shah then added valuable runs at the backend with brisk cameos.

The duo also shared an important 39-run partnership for the ninth wicket, which concluded with Ashraf’s dismissal on the first delivery of the final over.

Ashraf made 22 off 21 deliveries with the help of two boundaries, while Naseem made 19.

Will O’Rourke was the standout bowler for New Zealand, taking four wickets for 43 runs in 9.3 overs, while Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner bagged two each.

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand XI: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke