New Zealand Completes Clean Sweep with 43-Run Victory Over Pakistan
News Desk
Mount Maunganui: New Zealand clinched a clean sweep of their One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan with a commanding 43-run victory in the third match at Mount Maunganui. Batting first, the Kiwis posted a challenging total of 264/8 in their allotted 42 overs, setting Pakistan a target of 265 runs to win.
However, Pakistan’s chase faltered as they were bowled out for 221 runs in just 40 overs. Despite a valiant effort by their top-order batsmen, the Green Shirts were unable to reach the target, handing New Zealand a dominant series win.
New Zealand’s Innings:
The match, which was reduced to 42 overs per side due to weather, saw New Zealand’s batsmen capitalizing on the final overs to boost their total. After an early struggle against Pakistan’s bowlers, the Kiwis added 53 runs in the last five overs.
Michael Bracewell top-scored with 59 runs off 40 balls, while Reiss Mario played an excellent knock of 58 runs.
For Pakistan, Akif Javed was the standout performer with the ball, taking four wickets for 62 runs in his 8 overs. Naseem Shah also contributed with two wickets for 54 runs in his 9 overs, but despite their efforts, New Zealand’s total proved too challenging to chase down.
Pakistan’s Chase:
Pakistan’s chase got off to a rough start as opener Imam-ul-Haq suffered a jaw injury and was forced to retire hurt after scoring just one run off seven balls. His replacement, Usman Khan, also struggled and was dismissed for 12 runs off 17 balls.
Opener Abdullah Shafiq contributed 33 runs off 56 balls, while captain Babar Azam made a steady 50 runs from 58 balls, including four fours and a six. Mohammad Rizwan, the Pakistani skipper, scored 37 runs off 32 balls, while Salman Aghaz and Faheem Ashraf contributed minimal scores, adding 11 and 3 runs respectively.
Naseem Shah, Wasim Junior, and Akif Javed all had brief cameos with the bat, but none could hold the innings together. Tayyab Tahir, Pakistan’s last reliable batter, was dismissed for 33 runs off 31 balls after attempting a high shot that was caught in the field. Pakistan’s tail folded quickly, and they were all out for 221 runs, handing New Zealand the victory and a 3-0 series sweep.
Previous Matches Recap:
This loss follows Pakistan’s earlier defeats in the series. In the second ODI, played in Hamilton, Pakistan was bowled out for 208 runs in response to New Zealand’s target of 293 runs. In the opening match, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 73 runs, with the hosts posting a daunting 344/9 in their 50 overs.
Series Summary:
With this 43-run victory, New Zealand completed a dominant 3-0 series clean sweep against Pakistan. Despite strong individual performances from Pakistan’s bowlers, including Akif Javed’s four-wicket haul in the third ODI, the team struggled with the bat throughout the series, and key injuries added to their woes.
New Zealand, on the other hand, showcased their depth and resilience, with standout contributions from players like Michael Bracewell and Reiss Mario. Pakistan will look to regroup and reassess ahead of future challenges in their ODI calendar.
