New Zealand wrapped up their Twenty20 cricket series against Pakistan with a match to spare when they blasted their way to a 39-run win in the second match yesterday.
Scott Styris and Peter McGlashan were the principal contributors to a 79-run onslaught in five overs which swung the match New Zealand’s way in the second half of their innings of 185 for seven.
Pakistan made a valiant start to the run chase and were 58 for one after six overs, before their batting was robbed of its impetus by the twin-spin attack in the middle eight overs.
Nathan -McCullum, who was named man of the match, took four for 16 off his four overs, while debutant Luke Woodcock took none for 20 and at the close of their innings Pakistan were 146 for nine.
It was a good recovery for New Zealand, who, after losing the toss, were sent in to bat on an unfavourable wicket and immediately lost opener Jesse Ryder to the first ball of the match.
But from then, New Zealand were in control, with Martin Guptill and James Franklin starring in a 90-run stand for the second wicket.
Guptill compiled a brisk 44, including three sixes and three fours from 28 deliveries, while Franklin, newly promoted from six to three, made 44.
Both wickets fell in the space of five balls, leaving Styris and then McGlashan to continue the initiative, while skipper Ross Taylor anchored the other end.
Styris, who came in at the fall of Franklin’s wicket, clouted 34 off 14 balls and with his departure McGlashan combined a mixture of orthodox shots and reverse sweeps to belt 26 from 10 deliveries.
Taylor was unbeaten on 30 at the end of the innings, while Saeed Ajmal returned the best figures for Pakistan with three for 35 off his four overs.
Mohammed Hafeez and Shahid Afridi made a fiery start to Pakistan’s reply and raced to 24 off 11 balls before Kyle Mills was fortuitously rewarded for a rank full toss which Afridi missed and was bowled for 7.
Pakistan remained ahead of the required run rate through the first six overs before slowing in the face of the spin attack.
It was a short-lived life for Hafeez who added two more runs before he was run out for 46 on the first ball of Woodcock’s second over and Pakistan’s mainstay batsman was gone.
Only Umar Akmal (26) and Ahmed Shehzad (15) offered resistance, while for New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee backed up the spinners with two for 26 off his four overs.
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