KARACHI: With their all-out brilliant bowling attack, Babar Azam-led Pakistan bowled out New Zealand for 261 on Wednesday to win the third ODI in the metropolis by 26 runs.
The win means Pakistan have now clinched the five-match series 3-0 – their first against the Kiwis in 12 years.
Chasing 288 runs, the New Zealand team kept losing wickets at intervals. Openers Tom Blundell and Will Young gave their side a good start but two quick wickets followed their departure.
Blundell scored 65 runs for New Zealand. Captain Tom Latham scored 45 while Cole McConchie put up a bit of resistance at the end but could not hand New Zealand victory. He scored 63 not out which included six fours and two maximums.
On behalf of Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Muhammad Wasim Jr. and Naseem Shah took two wickets each. Agha Salman took a wicket.
After coming in to bat in the first innings, left-arm opener Imam-ul-Haq led Pakistan from the front amid controlled bowling from New Zealand and restricted the home side to 287-6.
Fakhar Zaman, who scored two consecutive centuries in the first two ODIs of this series, left earlier. The left-hander did not find rhythm in today’s match and had to leave, handing over his wicket to Matt Henry.
Imam continued his form from the last two matches and created momentum along with captain Babar Azam. Both the batsmen put on a brilliant partnership of 108 runs at the crease. Meanwhile, Babar completed his 26th fifty but fell short of his 5000 ODI runs. He is just 19 runs away from this milestone.
Imam, on the other hand, looked good to finally score a century in this series. But, he again fell to a nervous 90. His innings included seven fours and one six.
Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman finally tried to score some runs for Pakistan. Both scored 54 runs together.
Shadab Khan (21) and Mohammad Nawaz (11) played cameos in the end, helping Pakistan build a defendable total.
Henry took three wickets while Adam Milne took two wickets for New Zealand. Cole McConchie also managed to take a wicket.
Squads
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafiq, Muhammad Rizwan (wicket), Shadab Khan, Agha Salman, Muhammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Muhammad Wasim, Naseem Shah.
New Zealand: Will Young, Tom Blundell (w), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c), Mark Chapman, Henry Nicholls, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Henry Shipley, Ash Sodhi, Matt Henry
Match Officials
Umpires: Faisal Afridi (PAK) and Langton Rossare (ZIM)
TV Umpire: Joel Wilson (WI)
Match Referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
