HAMILTON – Pakistan’s improved batting went in vain as New Zealand beat thetourists by five wickets in fourth ODI at Hamilton on Tuesday to go 4-0 upin the five-match series.
Openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro saw New Zealand off to a steadystart before Shadab Khan struck to remove both of them, bringing Pakistanback into the game in defense of 262.
Munro fell for 56 and Guptill was gone for 31, while Rumman Raees lbw’edRoss Taylor for 1, reducing New Zealand to 90-3.
Shadab struck again to send Tom Latham back to the pavilion, with NewZealand at 99-4.
New Zealand looked stable again but Haris Sohail dismissed captain KaneWilliamson for 32 to reduce the hosts to 154-5.
Henry Nicholls (52*) and Colin de Grandhomme (74*) then put the Black Capsin total command as they chased down the target without any further loss.
Earlier, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail – in for out-of-form Azhar Ali -both scored sure-footed fifties after Pakistan won the toss and chose tobat.
Fakhar scored 54 off 75 balls before falling to the spin of MitchellSantner. Faheem Ashraf, opening the innings after Imam-ul-Haq was ruled outof the match due to injury, could not fire and went for 1 off a Tim Southeedelivery.
Haris Sohail stabilised Pakistan’s innings with a steady 50 off 74 ballsbefore getting out off Kane Williamson’s bowling.
Just as Pakistan seemed to slow down, Mohammad Hafeez and skipper SarfrazAhmed hit fifties in the later overs to keep the momentum going.
Hafeez scored 81 off 80 before getting run out, while Sarfraz put up 51 off46 before falling to Trent Boult.
Paceman Tim Southee led the New Zealand attack with three for 44 andskipper Kane Williamson took two for 32.
Earlier, during toss, Sarfraz praised the pitch. “It looks like a goodpitch, so hopefully we can make a good score,” he said.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was unperturbed about losing the toss,saying conditions early in the match should suit his pace attack.
“We were actually going to have a bowl,” he said. “In some of theseday-night games perhaps you´ll get a bit of dew later on.”
Shoaib Malik head blow
All-rounder Shoaib Malik was hit on the head by a wayward throw duringbatting. He got up and continued to bat, but has now been rested due tosome signs of delayed concussion.
“While trying to take a run Shoaib Malik was hit on his head with a waywardthrow. Shoaib was assessed on field by match doctor and myself,” saidPakistan Team Physiotherapist Vib Singh after the innings.
“He did not have any symptoms of a concussion and was able to carry onplaying. After getting out he was reassessed and was showing delayedconcussion signs. He is doing well and is resting. As advised by matchdoctor and team physio, he will not be taking any further part in thismatch.”
Playing XI
Pakistan:
Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hafeez,Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali,Rumman Raees.
New Zealand:
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, TomLatham, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee,Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.