KARACHI: New Zealand outclassed Pakistan in the tri-nation series final by five wickets, chasing down the meager total in a commanding display with 28 balls to spare here at National Bank Stadium on Friday.
The visiting team batters Devon Conway and Tom Latham led the charge, ensuring the Black Caps lifted the trophy with a composed run chase.
While Chasing 243, New Zealand suffered an early setback when Will Young was trapped LBW by Naseem Shah for five runs in the second over.
After the early wicket, New Zealand’s stalwart Kane Williamson and Devon Conway absorbed the pressure, adding 71 runs for the second wicket to stabilize the chase.
Williamson’s dismissal in the 17th over gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope. He departed after a steady 34 off 49 balls, leaving the game evenly poised.
Soon after, in the 24th over, Conway fell just two runs short of a well-deserved half-century, caught at deep midwicket. The left-handed opener, struggling with his form recently, hit five fours in his 48 off 74 balls.
Despite losing wickets at crucial junctures, New Zealand team batters stayed composed. After set batters departed, Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell controlled the innings with a decisive 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket, courtesy of Pakistan’s poor fielding.
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The duo stitched a vital partnership and scored crucial half-centuries. Mitchell scored 57 off 58 balls laced with six fours. After scoring his seventh ODI, he departed off Abrar Ahmed’s bowling.
Latham was caught by Abrar Ahmed after scoring 56 runs in the 44th over, but it was too late for the home team. The left-hander’s innings of 64 balls included five elegant fours.
After his wicket, Glenn Phillips remained calm and composed, taking his team to title glory with 20 off 17 deliveries.
Naseem Shah was Pakistan’s standout bowler, taking two for 43 in his eight overs. He provided breakthroughs early on and in the middle overs; however, the total proved insufficient as New Zealand dominantly secured the title of the Tri-Nation Series.
Will O’Rourke was named the Player of the Match after his phenomenal bowling performance, while Agha Salman bagged the Player of the Series award for his all-around brilliance.
Earlier, Will O’Rourke bowled brilliantly and took four wickets to bundle out Pakistan for 242 in 49.3 overs.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan opted to bat first. However, the hosts failed to get the desired start as O’Rourke gave New Zealand an early breakthrough, dismissing Fakhar Zaman (10).
Saud Shakeel (8) and Babar Azam added 30 runs for the second wicket before the former fell prey to Michael Bracewell.
Babar looked stable for his 34-ball 29, but he made an easy return catch with Nathan Smith, leaving Pakistan struggling at 54-3.
Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha once again joined hands to take Pakistan out of trouble with their solid partnership of 88 runs for the fourth wicket before O’Rourke struck again.
Pakistan captain top-scored for his team with a cautious 46-run knock from 76 balls, which featured four boundaries and one six.
Meanwhile, Salman soon fell prey to Bracewell after scoring 45 runs from 65 deliveries with the help of one four and one six.
New Zealand bowlers did not allow Pakistan to make a comeback as they kept picking wickets at regular intervals.
Tayyab Tahir played a valuable 38-run cameo, while Faheem Ashraf (22) and Naseem Shah (19) added crucial 39 runs for the ninth wicket. O’Rourke took the final wicket of Naseem to end Pakistan’s innings on 242.
For New Zealand, Will O’Rourke returned with the bowling figures of 4-43, while Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner bagged two wickets each.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, Will O’Rourke
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