*ISLAMABAD- Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has blamed his side’s 5-0 ODIseries whitewash against New Zealand to top-order batting failure.*
Despite a flurry of late-order runs in the fifth and final match inWellington, Pakistan fell 15 runs short of the Black Caps’ 271/7 afteranother poor return from their top six. Of them, only Haris Sohail (63)passed 12 and after 17 overs the tourists were 57/5.
It was all a little familiar for Sarfraz, who himself only managed 3 fromNo.6.
“New Zealand are a very good team, they played well throughout the series.The main thing was batting, that’s why we lost the series.”
As well as paying tribute to his bowlers, who never let the hosts get away,Sarfraz did recognise the spirit of the lower-order. No.7 Shadab Khan (54)put on 105 with Haris Sohail to give Pakistan a chance, and they remainedin the game until the penultimate over thanks to brisk runs from FahimAshraf (23), Aamer Yamin (32*) and Mohammad Nawaz (23).
“We back our team. And there are some positive things. The lower orderplayed very well today, Fahim, Aamer Yamin, Nawaz. “The bowling unit werevery good. Sometimes we had opportunities but we didn’t grab them.”
Martin Guptill, named Man of the Match for his even 100 off 126 balls, andMan of the Series for his 310 runs at 78 across the five matches, echoedSarfraz’s comments on the Pakistan bowlers.
Martin Guptill’s hundred anchored New Zealand’s innings Martin Guptill’shundred anchored New Zealand’s innings
“It certainly is [a very good Pakistan bowling attack]. They made itextremely tough for us to get the run-rate up in the middle of the inningsin each game. They found a length that was hard to get away. Credit to themfor the way they bowled.
The tall right-hander said the pitches on offer hadn’t brought out his mostfree-flowing form but was pleased with the way he and his colleagues hadbuilt partnerships throughout the summer.
“They have [been tough wickets] throughout the whole series. There hasn’tbeen that big 300 score yet, we’ve had to do a lot of hard graft with thebat and it proves that those partnerships we’ve been able to create haveactually got us through to some good match-winning totals.
“I’ve been in reasonable form. It hasn’t been my most fluent work butsometimes you’ve got to score the tough runs and just eke it out a wee bitin the middle.
Kane Williamson was pleased with Matt Henry’s contribution Kane Williamsonwas pleased with Matt Henry’s contribution
“I just try to be in good solid positions to hit from. I haven’t had a highboundary count, I’ve been able to get off strike and create partnershipsand that’s been able to get us through and get some match-winningcontributions.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson paid tribute to returning quick bowlerMatt Henry, who ripped out the top three before returning to take the finalwicket to end with 4-53.
Henry was brought into the side to replace the rested Trent Boult ahead ofthe T20I series.
“He’s been chomping at the bit to come in and get a game and he wasoutstanding today with the new ball. Whenever he’s come in he’s performedreally well for us. It’ great to have so many fast bowlers ready to go andit was nice for him to get his opportunity today.”
Williamson praised his side’s resilience throughout the series.
“There was a lot of cricket in a short period of time and the guys backedit up really well and adapted well on the different surfaces and playedsmart cricket.”
The three-match T20I series begins on Monday. Courtesy: ICC Cricket