New Zealand cruised to a seven-wicket win over an underdone Pakistan in the first of their two one-day internationals in Wellington yesterday.
After bowling Pakistan out for 210 in the 46th over, the Black Caps reached their target in the 40th over with Grant Elliott not out 64 and Ross Taylor unbeaten on 59.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum credited his side’s tight fielding with setting the platform for victory.
Photo: AFP
“It was probably the best we’ve seen all summer and that creates so much intensity and allows the seamers to be able to really get into the game,” he said.
The comfortable victory for New Zealand underscored Pakistan’s lack of preparation two weeks away from the start of the World Cup.
It was their first ODI since they were beaten 3-2 in a home series against New Zealand before Christmas and the lack of match play was evident from the moment they lost the toss and were put in to bat.
The batsmen lacked timing and the bowlers also struggled.
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq said they were about 70 runs short of a competitive total.
“In the first 10 overs we were nowhere, we had no momentum,” he said. “They bowled really well and we just kept on losing wickets. I think 280-290 could have been a competitive total on this pitch.”
Elliott and Taylor led New Zealand home, adding 112 in an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand.
Pakistan’s score was largely thanks to a 71-run partnership in 38 deliveries by Misbah and all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Kyle Mills bowled Mohammad Hafeez with the fifth ball of the match, which started a slide that saw Pakistan at 127-6 in the 36th over before Misbah (58) and Afridi (67) provided a little backbone.
However, when Misbah went it started another slide, with the last four wickets falling for 12 runs.
Trent Boult had Ahmed Shehzad caught behind for 15 and Haris Sohail (23) — who had to walk back while the theme song for Ghostbusters played — Umar Akmal (13) and Sarfraz Ahmed (5) quickly followed before Afridi took hold of the attack.
Sohail complained earlier in the week that a ghost had shaken his hotel bed in Christchurch.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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