Ross Taylor batting against Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: Pakistan’s top-order woes continue to haunt them as they succumbed to a seven-wicket defeat against hosts New Zealand in their first ODI played at Wellington.
The top order had failed to fire in the two warm-up matches, and the pattern was repeated in first one-dayer after the Kiwis won the toss and elected to field.
All-rounder Muhammad Hafeez, whose suspension from bowling has restricted him to contributing only through the bat, fell in the first over on a duck as he was clean-bowled by Kyle Mills.
Ahmed Shehzad and Younus Khan remained in survival mode and were the architects of their own downfall. Shehzad played a reckless shot and threw his wicket on 15 to Trent Boult, while Younus failed to grab the lifeline after he was caught off a no-ball and was trapped lbw by Mills on nine.
Pakistan were in hot waters on 32-3 when skipper Misbahul Haq and Haris Sohail started rebuilding the innings; however, they could only manage a 49-run stand. Haris, who made 23 off 38 with three boundaries, was caught superbly by Martin Guptill at backward point off Corey Anderson.
Thereafter, Umar Akmal (13) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (five) fell victim to poor shot selection, leaving Pakistan at 127-6 in 35.3 overs.
Misbah, Afridi stand goes down the drain
With Misbah holding up one end, in-form Shahid Afridi lived up to his ‘Boom Boom’ reputation, thrashing bowlers for boundaries and sixes.
Misbah completed a deserving half-century, while Afridi raced to his fifty in just 21 balls and became the only player in world to score 10 fifties in less than 22 balls. Their 71-run association came to an end when Misbah was caught at deep midwicket trying to loft Grant Elliott after making 58 off 87 with two sixes and four boundaries.
Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 210 in 45.3 overs as Afridi top-scored with 67, which came in just 29 balls with three sixes and nine boundaries at a stellar strike-rate of 231.03.
Elliott took three wickets, while the trio of Anderson, Mills and Boult claimed two scalps each.
"In the first 10 overs we were nowhere, we had no momentum," said Misbah. "They bowled really well and we just kept on losing wickets. I think 280-290 could have been a competitive total on this pitch."
In reply, New Zealand raced to the target, finishing at 213-3 with 10.3 overs left. Elliott remained unbeaten on a 68-ball 64, his knock laced with eight strikes to the fence while Ross Taylor made 59 not out.
Afridi was the only bowler who bowled with consistency, while Muhammad Irfan looked threatening in patches as both bagged a wicket each along with Bilawal Bhatti.
“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," said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. "Obviously the run-chase was very well planned by Grant and Ross."
With New Zealand leading the two-match series 1-0, Pakistan must level the series in the next ODI on Tuesday in order to avoid a whitewash.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by seven wickets and lead the two-match series 1-0.
NZ 208-3 (39.3 overs)
FOUR! Grant Elliot finished it with style. New Zealand beat Pakistan by seven wickets.
Single on the first ball by Ross Taylor.
Ehsan Adil bowls probably the last over of the match.
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NZ 208-3 (39 overs)
Just three required off 11 overs.
FOUR! Grant Elliot off Muhammad Irfan. Short ball pulled and goes kissing the boundary behind square leg.
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NZ 203-3 (38 overs)
Six runs of Shahid Afridi's over.
100-run partnership comes up for the pair (Grant Elliot and Ross Taylor).
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NZ 197-3 (37 overs)
FOUR! Grant Elliot brings up his fifty off 55 balls with a hook down fine leg.
Muhammad Irfan bowls.
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NZ 189-3 (36 overs)
Just four runs of the over.
Shahid Afridi bowls the first over of the batting powerplay.
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NZ 185-3 (35 overs)
FIFTY for Ross Taylor off 72 balls.
Two consecutive wides by tall quicky.
Muhammad Irfan brought back into the attack.
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NZ 181-3 (34 overs)
Five runs of his over.
Shahid Afridi is back.
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NZ 176-3 (33 overs)
FOUR! Grant Elliot off Bilawal Bhatti past the first slip on the third ball of the over.
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NZ 167-3 (32 overs)
Haris Sohail continues. Just five of his over courtesy a FOUR by Grant Eilliot.
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NZ 162-3 (31 overs)
FOUR again! Cover drive by Elliot. Magical.
FOUR! Grant Elliot pulls it towards deep fine leg off Bilwal Bhatti.
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NZ 151-3 (30 overs)
Five runs of the over. Three singles two doubles.
Haris Sohail continues.
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NZ 146-3 (29 overs)
Just two runs of his over. NZ taking calculated risks at the moment.
Bilawal Bhatti is brought in to bowl.
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NZ 144-3 (28 overs)
Haris Sohail continues and goes for four runs in his second over.
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NZ 140-3 (27 overs)
Six runs of Ehsan Adil's over.
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NZ 134-3 (26 overs)
Haris Sohail goes for two runs in his first over.
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NZ 132-3 (25 overs)
Just four runs of the over.
Ehsan Adil continues.
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NZ 128-3 (24 overs)
A wide and a single of the over.
Shahid Afridi continues.
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NZ 126-3 (23 overs)
FOUR! Grant Elliot off Ehsan Adil on the second ball of the over.
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NZ 120-3 (22 overs)
Just three runs of Shahid Afridi's over.
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NZ 117-3 (21 overs)
FOUR! Grant Elliot on the first ball of Muhammad Irfan's over.
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NZ 107-3 (20 overs)
Six runs of Shahid Afridi's over.
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NZ 101-3 (19 overs)
A wicket-maiden for Irfan.
OUT! Martin Guptill is caught by Bilawal Bhatti off Muhammad Irfan at square leg on the third ball of the over.
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NZ 101-2 (18 overs)
FOUR! Shahid Afridi is hit by Ross Taylor towards the mid-wicket boundary on the fifth ball of the over.
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NZ 95-2 (17 overs)
FOUR! Ross Taylor off Muhammad Irfan on the fourth ball of the over through covers.
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NZ 89-2 (16 overs)
Just one run of Shahid Afridi's over.
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NZ 88-2 (15 overs)
FOUR! Ross Taylor pulls it off Ehsan Adil.
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NZ 80-2 (14 overs)
Just two runs of Shahid Afridi's over.
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NZ 78-2 (13 overs)
Just three of Ehsan Adil's over.
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NZ 75-2 (12 overs)
OUT! Afridi strikes. Latham (23) gone. Pakistan need a few of those and that too quickly.
FOUR! Latham off Afridi.
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NZ 71-1 (11 overs)
Ehsan Adil hit for two FOURS in the over. Straight over the bowler's head by Martin Guptill. Inside edge by Tom Latham.
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NZ 61-1 (10 overs)
FOUR! Bilawal Bhatti hit for a four towards backward point by Tom Latham.
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NZ 55-1 (9 overs)
FOUR! Martin Guptill goes towards the mid-wicket boundary. Ehsan Adil the bowler. New Zealand cruising forwards fearlessly.
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NZ 51-1 (8 overs)
Tom Latham joins the party. Bilawal Bhatti hit for two fours on the second and third ball. Fine leg and backward point.
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NZ 43-1 (7 overs)
Two fours by Martin Guptill off Muhammad Irfan. Deep mid-wicket and then wide of mid-wicket.
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NZ 34-1 (6 overs)
Just one run of Bilawal Bhatti's over. NZ toned down a little bit by the wicket. Tom Latham (0), Martin Guptill (14).
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NZ 33-1 (5 overs)
Muhammad Irfan bowls a maiden over.
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NZ 33-1 (4 overs)
OUT! Brendon McCullum (17) doesn't last long. He is caught at point by Ahmed Shehzad.
Bilawal Bhatti again!
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NZ 31-0 (3 overs)
Martin Guptill with an onslaught on Muhammad Irfan this time. Three boundaries. Mid-wicket and the next two through covers.
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NZ 18-0 (2 overs)
Three FOURS of the over by Brendon McCullum. Covers, Cover point and mid-wicket.
Bilawal Bhatti to join Irfan.
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NZ 6-0 (1 over)
FOUR! Brendon McCullum on the second ball of the over. Full and on leg, chipped away easily.
Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill come out for NZ to chase 211 while Muhammad Irfan is given the new ball to bag a few early wickets for Pakistan.
New Zealand need 211 to win the first ODI against Pakistan.
Pak 210 all out (45.3 overs)
OUT! Ehsan Adil caught at mid-off off Grant Elliot.
FOUR! Ehsan Adil goes over long off.
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Pak 205-9 (45 overs)
Just one run off Trent Boults over.
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Pak 205-9 (44 overs)
OUT! Shahid Afridi caught at long-on off Adam Milne for 67 runs. Fuller length and he lofts it into Martin Guptill's safe hands.
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Pak 203-8 (43 overs)
OUT! Bilawal Bhatti caught at backward point by Martin Guptill.
FOUR! Afridi pulls it hard. Goes for the area between fine leg and deep mid-wicket.
Trent Boult is back.
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Pak 198-7 (42 overs)
OUT! Misbahul Haq (58) is caught off Grant Elliot. Great anchoring innings.
FOUR! Afridi paddles a wide delivery from off-side down the fine-leg boundary off Grant Elliot.
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Pak 189-6 (41 overs)
SIXx2. Straight over Nathan McCullum's head. Then over the covers to bring up his FIFTY!
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Pak 174-6 (40 overs)
Two boundaries again by Shahid Afridi off Corey Anderson's over. Straight down the ground. Beats third man with an edge.
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Pak 163-6 (39 overs)
Afridi hits two boundaries off Adam Milne. Behind square on leg followed by behind square on the off side.
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Pak 153-6 (38 overs)
SIX! Afridi is not going to stay quiet. Over mid-wicket.
DROPPED! Brendon McCullum slips a sitter. Afridi lifts it in the air and he runs backwards and spills it.
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Pak 142-6 (37 overs)
Another FOUR! Afridi pokes at a wide short length delivery which runs away for a boundary past the slip on the fourth ball.
FOUR over wide mid on by Shahid Afridi off Adam Milne on the second ball.
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Pak 133-6 (36 overs)
FOUR! Shahid Afridi for you ladies and gentleman. He walks in and receives it in his zone. Over the covers on the very first ball he faces.
OUT! Sarfraz Ahmed (5) slog sweeps and is caught at deep square leg off Corey Anderson.
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Pak 125-5 (35 overs)
Nathan McCullum goes for just one run in the over. And powerplay starts.
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Pak 124-5 (34 overs)
FOUR! Misbah swings and it runs down to the third-man boundary. FIFTY up for the skipper. Can he finally get his maiden ODI century today?
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Pak 116-5 (33 overs)
Just one run of Adam Milne's over.
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Pak 115-5 (32 overs)
Sarfraz Ahmed walks in for Pakistan.
BOWLED! Umar Akmal (13) isn't able to comply with a slow yorker by Grant Elliot.
Grant Elliot with his slow balls.
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Pak 111-4 (31 overs)
Drinks break!
FOUR! Umar Akmal swings wildly and inside edges it towards the fine leg boundary on the fourth ball of the over.
Adam Milne again.
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Pak 103-4 (30 overs)
Just two singles of the over.
Right-arm medium pacer Grant Elliot introduced.
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Pak 101-4 (29 overs)
Just a single of Adam Milne's over.
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Pak 100-4 (28 overs)
FOUR! Straight over the bowlers head! Misbah is shifting his gears. 100 up for Pakistan.
FOUR! Misbah receives a wide delivery and smashed it past the covers fielders on the first ball of the over.
Corey Anderson bowls.
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Pak 88-4 (27 overs)
Just one run of the over.
Trent Boult continues.
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Pak 87-4 (26 overs)
FOUR! Umar Akmal crunches one down the mid-wicket boundary for a four on the fifth ball of the over.
Corey Anderson again!
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Pak 82-4 (25 overs)
Just one run of Trent Boult's over.
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Pak 81-4 (24 overs)
OUT! Haris Sohail (23) caught by Martin Guptill on the second ball of the over.
Corey Anderson introduced.
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Pak 80-3 (23 overs)
Just one run from Nathan McCullum's over.
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Pak 79-3 (22 overs)
Just two runs of Kyle Mills over.
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Pak 77-3 (21 overs)
Misbahul Haq and Haris Sohail have now held the reins of Pakistan team nicely and building towards a partnership.
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Pak 32-3 (11.2 overs)
LBW! Younus Khan is dismissed by Kyle Mills for nine runs. He reviews the decision unsuccessfully. Pakistan are in deep trouble.
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Pak 29-2 (9.3 overs)
OUT! Ahmed Shehzad comes running down the crease, Trent Boult bowls a wilder delivery and he edges it to the keeper.
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Pak 0-1 (0.5 overs)
BOWLED! Muhammad Hafeez cleaned up by Kyle Mills for not.
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Pak 0-0 (0 overs)
Muhammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad will open the innings for Pakistan while Kyle Mills will start the bowling for New Zealand.
COMMENTS (5)
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Hafeez is the worst player on these pitches, so even if he is fully fit for bowl, i won't play him. He can't score against Newzealand, SA, Aus and England atleast who have better seamers, then whats the point of playing him? Younis is a constant failure in limited overs format, Bhatti is one of the worst bowlers I've seen in my life, so God bless Pakistan. Even quarterfinals is at some distance.
What a pathetic state of play and selection. This team ain't going nowhere in the presence of "Kachra" like Hafeez, Mishbah, Younis and Umar Akmal. What was the philosophy behind a wildcard selection like Sohail Khan and then selecting Bilawal Bhatti who was a last minute filler for Junaid Khan.
I sincerely pray that this crap gets it's backside handed on a platter in the first round. This would ensure that the ouster of no good players like Hafeez, Younis, Misbah, Umer Akmal is fast tracked. Can't bat, can't bowl and can't field.
It would be miracle if this team goes to semi final. We have under performers throughout. HAFEEZ YOUNIS SHAHZAD Adil even Akmal. Now even Sarfraz is exposed on pitch showing lateral movement. If five players are just filling in then what to expect?
Pakistan is playing NZ not England.
I'm Am worried about teams WC preparation performance and false reassure of coach!!