New Zealand wins the 3rd ODI against Pakistan by 43 runs and sweeps the series
While Pakistan made a bold effort to chase down New Zealand's total of 264-8, it fell short again and was dismissed for 221 in a match reduced by a wet outfield to 42 overs per side
MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Pakistan ended a disappointing tour of New Zealand on another sombre note Saturday, losing the third one-day international by 43 runs.
While Pakistan made a bold effort to chase down New Zealand’s total of 264-8, it fell short again and was dismissed for 221 in a match reduced by a wet outfield to 42 overs per side.
New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears took 5-34, his second five-wicket haul in consecutive matches.
Pakistan made a strong start to its chase despite a shocking injury to opener Imam-ul-Haq, who retired hurt in the third over after being struck in the head by a throw at the stumps.
Babar Azam rallied Pakistan after the incident with a half century which, with support from Abdullah Safique (33) and Mohammad Rizwan (37), helped Pakistan to 95-1 at the midpoint of its innings.
With 10 overs remaining, Pakistan was 167-4 and well in the match: New Zealand was 165-4 at the same stage. Tayyab Tahir made 33 from 31 balls but when he holed out in the 39th over with Pakistan 218-9 the chase was all but over.
Pakistan arrived in New Zealand with a new-look squad, eager to shrug off a disappointing performance at the recent Champions Trophy which it hosted and hoping to build towards next year’s T20 World Cup.
But the tourist lost the five-match T20 series 4-1 and lost the first two matches of the three-match ODI series by 73 runs and 84 runs before Saturday’s defeat.
“Obviously it was a disappointing series for us,” Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan said. “You have to give credit to New Zealand in all departments. They played very well for the last couple of months.”
Earlier, opener Rhys Mariu and Michael Bracewell made half centuries and Daryl Mitchell passed 2,000 runs in ODIs as New Zealand batted first after losing the toss.
Brief scores: New Zealand 264/8 in 42 overs (M Bracewell 59, R Mariu 58, D Mitchell 43, A Javed 4/62) bt Pakistan 221 in 40 overs (B Azam 50, B Sears 5/34)
Khushdil Shah involved in crowd trouble
The PCB on Saturday strongly denounced the alleged use of inappropriate remarks against Pakistan players by a group of Afghan spectators during the third ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
Two spectators of Afghanistan origin were later ejected from the ground following the Pakistani team’s complaint.
“When anti-Pakistan slogans emerged, cricketer Khushdil Shah stepped in and urged the spectators to refrain. In response, the Afghan spectators escalated the situation by using further inappropriate language in Pashto,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
In the past there have been incidents of clashes between Pakistani and Afghan spectators at different grounds when both countries have played against each other.
