CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: New Zealand cricket team defeated Pakistan by 43 runs in the third and final ODI match. With this win, New Zealand clinched the three-match ODI series 3-0. The match was reduced to 42 overs per side due to a wet outfield following rain.
Due to the damp outfield, the toss was delayed, and the match was shortened from 50-overs to 42-overs per side. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first. Batting first, New Zealand scored 264 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 42 overs. In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 221 runs in 40 overs, losing the match by a significant margin of 43 runs.
In the third ODI played at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand didn’t get off to a good start. The team lost their first wicket at the score of 13 when opener Nick Kelly was dismissed for just 3 runs. After that, Rhys Mariu played a brilliant knock of 58 runs off 61 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes. Captain Michael Bracewell added a quickfire 59 runs off 40 balls, hitting 6 sixes and a four. Additionally, Daryl Mitchell scored 43, Henry Nicholls 31, and Tim Seifert contributed 26 runs. This helped New Zealand post a total of 264 runs for 8 wickets in 42 overs.
From Pakistan’s side, Aaqif Javed was the most successful bowler with 4 wickets. Naseem Shah took 2 wickets, while Faheem Ashraf and Sufiyan Muqeem took one wicket each.
Chasing a target of 265 runs, Pakistan received an early blow when opener Imam-ul-Haq was forced to retire hurt. While taking a run, a direct throw hit his helmet and got stuck in the grill, injuring him.
Pakistan lost their first wicket at 73 when Abdullah Shafique was dismissed after scoring 33 runs off 56 balls. Usman Khan followed soon after, scoring 12 runs off 17 balls. Babar Azam scored a half-century with 50 runs, hitting 4 boundaries and a six. At a score of 135, Salman Agha was dismissed for 11, followed by captain Mohammad Rizwan who scored 37 runs. After that, no significant partnerships were built, and Pakistan’s batting collapsed. The team was all out for 221 runs in 40 overs. Tayyab Tahir scored 33 and Naseem Shah added 17 runs.
For New Zealand, Ben Sears was the standout bowler with an impressive five-wicket haul. Jacob Duffy took 2 wickets, while Michael Bracewell, M Abbas, and Daryl Mitchell picked up one wicket each.
Pakistan’s poor performance
It was a disappointing tour for Pakistan. After losing the T20I series 4-1 to New Zealand, they also suffered a whitewash in the ODI series, losing 3-0.
#NZvsPAK #NewZealandCricket #PakistanCricket #ODISeries #CricketNews #NZWin #SeriesWhitewash #3rdODI #SportsUpdate #CricketVictory
