New Zealand Cricket. (Photo Source: RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP via Getty Images)
Pakistan went down fighting in the fifth and final ODI of the series against New Zealand in Karachi as the visitors managed to avoid the embarrassment of a whitewash against the Asian side. Although the Kiwis won the game comfortably in the end after posting a solid total of 299 runs, the match wasn’t short of drama by any means.
Tom Latham’s side batted first in the contest in hopes of avoiding a demoralizing whitewash against the hosts in Karachi. The visitors, to their credit, made a strong start in the series finale despite losing Tom Blundell cheaply inside the first ten overs as Will Young enhanced his reputation in white-ball cricket with a well compiled 87 off 91 balls.
Latham’s assured half-century, coupled with Mark Chapman’s aggression pushed the Balckcaps into a commanding position. However, Shaheen Afridi’s brilliant second spell pulled things back for the hosts as the Kiwis lost their way in the death overs to finish with 299 runs, failing to play out their full quota of 50 overs.
Iftikhar Ahmed left stranded in a tense finish
Pakistan, in their reply, were bogged down by the New Zealand quicks in the powerplay, which resulted in two quick wickets, including the prized scalp of Pakistani skipper Babar Azam. Mohammad Rizwan and an in-form Fakhar Zaman were next to depart as the visitors asserted their dominance with the ball.
But the home side fought their way back into the series finale after a combative 97-run stand for the fifth wicket between Iftikhar Ahmed and Agha Salman. However, Latham’s side kept chipping away at the wickets after Salman’s dismissal.
Iftikhar waged a lone battle with a blistering 94 off just 72 deliveries, but just when it looked like the match was heading for a thrilling finale, Haris Rauf was run out while going for a risky second run, handing the Blackcaps their first and only victory of the ODI series.