The final One day International (ODI) of the 5-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand was played at the National Stadium, Karachi, on May 7. New Zealand registered a remarkable win over Pakistan and avoided the whitewash. However, Pakistan won the series 4-1.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the visitors scored 299 runs in 49.3 overs for the loss of ten wickets. Opener Will Young scored 87 runs off 91 balls with the help of 2 sixes and eight fours for New Zealand, and their captain Tom Latham made 59 runs in 58 balls. Mark Chapman also contributed for his team, with 43 runs off 33 balls. For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi picked up three wickets, while Usama Mir bags two scalps.
Chasing 300 runs for victory, Pakistan batter Iftikhar Ahmed tried till the last but could not take his team over the finish line. The 32-year-old scored 94 runs in 72 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. He remained not out at the crease till the end, with no batter to back him up. Agha Salman scored the second-highest run of Pakistan’s innings – 57 runs off 57 balls, with the help of six fours and one six. For New Zealand, Henry Shipley and Rachin Ravindra picked up 3-3 scalps and bundled out Pakistan for 252 runs to win the contest by 47 runs.
Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman received ‘Man of the Series’ for his splendid batting, scoring two hundreds. On the other hand Shipley was adjudged ‘Man of the Match’ for his brilliant bowling display.
With the defeat, Pakistan have slipped to the third position in the ICC ODI rankings, right behind Australia and India.
Brief scores: New Zealand 299 all out in 49.3 overs (Will Young 87, Tom Latham 59; Shaheen Afridi 3/46) beat Pakistan 252 all out in 46.1 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 94 not out, Agha Salman 57; Henry Shipley 3/34) by 47 runs.
