New Zealand flayed Pakistan’s attack on the way to a crushing 119-run win during the second one-day international (ODI) in Napier yesterday.
The win means the Black Caps take the series 2-0 and maintain momentum ahead of this month’s World Cup, while Pakistan look in disarray after two poor displays.
New Zealand ran riot after winning the toss and electing to bat, ending their innings at 369 for five, their highest ever score against Pakistan.
Photo: AFP
Kane Williamson top-scored with 112, Ross Taylor finished 102 not out, with a boundary off the last ball, and opener Martin Guptill also contributed 76.
In contrast, Pakistan medium-pacer Bilawal Bhatti recorded the worst bowling figures in the nation’s ODI history, leaking 93 runs off his ten overs without taking a wicket.
Pakistan’s batsmen could only manage 250 in reply before they were bowled out in 43.1 overs, although they were chasing the game after a dismal bowling effort.
Ehsan Adil fared little better than Bhatti, taking one wicket, but going for 8.5 runs per over.
Mohammad Irfan was the only bowler who seemed remotely dangerous, finishing with two for 52.
Brendan McCullum set the tone for the hosts with a typically aggressive cameo of 31 before Guptill and Williamson brought up New Zealand’s 100 off 18.2 overs.
They both brought up half-centuries in swift fashion, with New Zealand on 152 at the halfway mark.
Williamson stepped on the gas after Guptill was dismissed for 76, moving from 63 to 100 in the space of eight overs.
The 24-year old finally fell for 112 to Irfan, but Ross Taylor then stepped in to club a 70-ball century in his 150th ODI, smashing Bhatti onto the roof of the stands.
Taylor appeared in danger of remaining stranded in the 90s in the final over, but a six and a four in the final two balls took him to 102.
Pakistan’s openers Mohammad Hafeez and Shehzad made an excellent start, chasing down the mammoth total by notching half-centuries at a little more than a run a ball.
Shehzad went for 52 dancing down the wicket to attack spinner Nathan McCullum, but holing out to the man on the boundary.
Younis Khan could only manage 11 as the run-rate steadily crept higher, reaching almost 9.6 at the halfway mark.
Hafeez (86) and dangerman Shahid Afridi (11) both went as they lashed out trying to lift the pace, and when Misbah-ul-Haq departed on 45 it was all over.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping