KARACHI: Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten half-century helped New Zealand beat Pakistan by two wickets in the third and final one-day international in Karachi on Friday.
Phillips scored 63 off 42 balls, hitting four sixes and as many fours, to rescue New Zealand from a precarious 181-5 in pursuit of a target of 281 runs.
His innings eclipsed Fakhar Zaman’s 101 as Pakistan posted 280-9 in their 50 overs.
With New Zealand needing 100 off 87 balls, Phillips added 64 runs for the seventh wicket with Mitchell Santner, who scored 17 runs in a match-turning stand.
Skipper Kane Williamson scored 53 and Dion Conway 52, before Phillips ended the chase with 11 balls to spare.
Phillips completed his first ODI fifty in just 28 balls but was dropped on the next ball when wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan failed to take a catch from off-spinner Osama Mir.
New Zealand win the series-deciding third ODI courtesy of Glenn Phillips' unbeaten 63.#PAKvNZ | #TayyariKiwiHai pic.twitter.com/bHttJhDeNu
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 13, 2023
New Zealand’s win secured their first ODI series win in Pakistan in six attempts and kept them at the top of the ODI rankings.
“He (Phillips) wasn’t feeling well but he came out and played with a lot of freedom,” said Williamson, whose side have now won seven of their last eight ODI series.
“I thought we were in the middle of the game but there were a few mistakes. That knock for Glenn, and credit to Pakistan. It was a hard-fought series.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azam said: “When Rizwan and Fakhar played, it looked like we would touch 300 but when wickets fall, it is difficult for new batsmen.
“We didn’t do enough with the ball in the last 10 overs.”
Williamson put on 65 with Conway for the second wicket and then another 52 with Daryl Mitchell (31) for the next, but New Zealand lost four wickets within 45 runs.
Off-spinner Agha Salman (2-42) dismissed Conway and then had Mitchell caught with a wrong reverse sweep to break the partnership. Williamson was run out for the fourth wicket.
Opener Zaman laid the foundation for Pakistan’s good total.
The left-hander hit 10 fours and a six after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.
Zaman led Pakistan to 21-2 during a stand of 154 for the third wicket with Rizwan, who scored a brilliant 77 with six fours.
Pakistan got off to a poor start as they lost Shaun Masood for no runs and the world’s top-ranked ODI batsman Azam for just four.
Azam, who scored two fifties in the first two matches, was stumped by Tom Latham off spinner Michael Bracewell in the seventh over.
It was left to Zaman to rebuild the innings and he took a quick single to reach his eighth century, his first three-figure ODI score in Pakistan.
Leg-spinner Ash Sodhi bowled Rizwan to break the stand, while Zaman was run out when he tried to steal a quick single.
Salman led the innings with a late 43-ball 45, while New Zealand pacer Tim Southee took 3-56.
line-ups
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Dion Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Ash Sodhi, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson.
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (captain), Muhammad Rizwan (wicket), Haris Sohail, Agha Salman, Muhammad Nawaz, Osama Mir, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Muhammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf.
