Courtesy: NZC
On Saturday, April 5, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 43 runs in the third and final ODI at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, to clinch the series in a 3-0 whitewash. After the match was curtailed to a 42-overs a side due to rain, New Zealand opener Rhys Mariu and captain Michael Bracewell scored fifties, to help the hosts get up to 264/8, and in response, Pakistan were bundled out for 221 with two overs to spare despite a fifty from Babar Azam.
For the unversed, after winning the toss, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan decided to field first, and Naseem Shah provided them with a great start by picking up the wicket of Nick Kelly cheaply. But then, Rhys Mariu and Henry Nicholls shared a 78-run for the second wicket, to put the BlackCaps well on their way to an above par total, and the rest of the middle order batters made crucial contributions.
Rhys Mariu scored 58 runs in 61 balls with six fours and two maximums at the top of the order, while the late order runs from Michael Bracewell (59 off 40) with one four and six maximums. For Pakistan, Akif Javed was quite expensive in his eight-over spell, conceding 62 runs, but he also picked up four wickets while bowling a maiden, while Naseem Shah took a couple of wickets as well.
In the pursuit of the 265-run target, Pakistan had an early setback as Imam-ul-Haq had to retire hurt after scoring one run in seven balls due to the fielder’s throw hitting him flush on the helmet following which Usman Khan replaced him as concussion substitute. Abdullah Shafique (33 off 56) and Babar Azam (50 off 58) shared a partnership of 68 runs for the first wicket, but from that point onwards, the Men in Green kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Mohammad Rizwan and Tayyab Tahir did get into the 30s, but their lower order fell away drastically as Ben Sears picked up a second five-wicket haul in the ODI series, to seal the 3-0 whitewash for New Zealand.
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