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So that brings us to the end of Sportskeeda’s coverage from this ODI fixture between Pakistan and New Zealand. The home team has won the series with two matches still to go. It was a professional all-round effort today. Pakistan might opt for a few changes in the next few games with the series already done and dusted. Join us Sunday for the 4th ODI. The cricketing action continues with IPL, ECS and Spice Isle T10 matches lined up tomorrow. Keep following Sportskeeda for all the latest sporting action but for now this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off on behalf of my fellow commentator Raghav Tikamany.
Babar Azam (Pakistan captain): Whenever you win a series, its a relief for the team. The pitch wasn’t too easy to bat on, it was a slow wicket but the partnership between myself and Rizwan was important. Shadab finished it off brilliantly. We were looking for 260-270 but Shadab got us to that score. The spinners really bowled well. Unfortunately, Nawaz had to leave the field but the way Agha bowled was magnificent. We know we will get more challenges in the next two games so we can’t rest on our laurels and have to keep the good work going. We have tried to use our bench strength every second day and see where our bench stands. Even in T20s we have gone for different combinations and we have more less figured it out. It’s important series for them and winning the series 5-0 and going to the top of the rankings will give them the boost.
Tom Latham( New Zealand Captain): The pitch slowed up during our innings but a couple of partnerships would have made the difference. We were about 20 short, losing a few wickets in quick intervals took momentum away from us. We were pretty happy at the halfway stage. We had a great start with Blundell and Young but we couldn't carry on with the momentum. When you are chasing such a total, you need back-to-back partnerships. Yeah, positive signs for the depth we are building (on Blundell and McConchie's contributions). Especially McConchie, given that he bowled well and played some great strokes towards the end.
Imam-ul-Haq (Player of the Match): It really helps when you open with the same partner for 6 years. We knew that Karachi would never be an easy wicket, 280-290 would be a par total. If Fakhar is going well, he takes charge while I play my natural game. Babar and I focused on getting a partnership because it would be difficult for middle-order to stitch one. We had 260-270 in the mind but having lost only 4 in 40 overs, we aimed for a bigger total. Sure, I would have wanted to get to three figures but as long as the team is winning, I am happy.
Pakistan won by 27 runs
Pakistan 287/6 in 50 overs
Imam-U-Haq 90(107) | Babar Azam 54(62) Matt henry 3.54(10) | Adam Milne 2/56(10)
New Zealand 261 all-out in 49.1 overs
Tom Blundell 65(78) | Cole McConhie 64*(45) Naseem Shah 2/42(8.1) | Mohammad Wasim 2/50(7.5)
That should be it and Pakistan win by 27 runs. They have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the 5-match series. This is the first time Pakistan have won an ODI series against New Zealand since 2011. A superb all-round performance from Pakistan. After a good effort with the bat courtesy of a brilliant 90 by Imam Ul Haq and a half-century from Babar.
The opening duo of Will Young and Tom Blundell got New Zealand off to a brilliant start but the run out turned the match in Pakistan's favor and there was no way back for them from that time onwards. The running between the wicket didn't help as run outs were the order of the day as far as the New Zealand batters were concerned. Cole McChonie scored a brilliant half-century in his debut but the target was way too much in the end as Pakistan were comfortable winners.
Blundell who was playing his first match of the tour got off to a good start and went onto score a half-century. Both Young and Blundell were run out which pegged New Zealand severely in the run chase. Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals and the Pakistan spinners bowled brilliantly in the middle overs. Agha Salman stepped in as Mohammad Nawaz had to walk off after injuring his finger.
Shadab and Salman bowled in tandem and didn't allow the New Zealand batters to get away and score the boundaries at the rate they needed. Te pressure kept building which resulted in wickets. The pace trio of Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah sealed the final deal with some crucial wickets and despite a valiant effort from the debutant, New Zealand fell short by 27 runs.
49.1 Naseem Shah to Cole McConchie, RUNOUT. 1 run completed. That will be all. Pakistan win by 26 runs! Length ball around off, McConchie drills it to long on, the batters run the first one hard but they risk the second one as they had no choice. The throw from Babar was accurate and Naseem dislodged the bails when Henry was well short of the crease.
Shaheen Afridi with another successful over. A crushing yorker on the base of off-stump and Sodhi had to trudge back to the pavilion. 28 more needed off the final over.
49
overs
260/9score
0
4
1
W
1
1
runs
Cole McConchie*
63(44)
Matt Henry
1(1)
Shaheen Afridi
2/53
48.6 Shaheen Afridi to Cole McConchie, on length and outside off, taking pace off it, McConchie swings outside and gets an inside edge that rolls towards the keeper, he manages to steal a single here and retain the strike for the final over.
48.5 Shaheen Afridi to Matt Henry, full on the leg, Henry opens up the off-side and slashes it towards long off for a single
Matt Henry, RHB comes out to the crease.
It's as good as it gets. Off pole goes for a walk as Sodhi departs for 1.
48.4 Shaheen Afridi to Ish Sodhi, BOWLED HIM! Nails the yorker on the off-stump line. Sodhi tries his best to keep that one out but he fails to get his bat down on time. The ball hits the timber and New Zealand lose their ninth wicket.
48.3 Shaheen Afridi to Cole McConchie, banged in short and around off, McConchie mistimes his pull that lands short of deep midwicket, has to settle for a single here
McConhie still believes that the chase is on.
48.2 Shaheen Afridi to Cole McConchie, FOUR! Overpitched around the fourth stump line, McConchie walks across and drills it through midwicket for a boundary!
48.1 Shaheen Afridi to Cole McConchie, nails a wide yorker, just within the tramlines, McConchie offers no shot expecting it to be a wide, but it was not. Dot ball.
McConhie has given New Zealand ann outside chance of winning this. 35 off 2 overs required but with him hitting the ball very well, he will back himself to get it close if not chase it down.
48
overs
253/8score
W
0
1
4
0
1wd
1
runs
Cole McConchie*
57(40)
Ish Sodhi
1(2)
Naseem Shah
2/40
47.6 Naseem Shah to Cole McConchie, length ball sliding down the leg, tucked away to deep backward square for a single