New Zealand beat Pakistan in nail-biter, win series 2-0

Pakistan, who need to win to tie the series, were all out for 290 with 15 balls remaining

AUCKLAND:  

A record partnership by Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson gave New Zealand victory with two balls to spare in a tense third one-dayer against Pakistan in Auckland on Sunday.

The three-wicket win in the rain-abridged match also wrapped up the series for New Zealand 2-0.

Initially set a target of 291 to win, New Zealand made a disastrous start with Brendon McCullum out for a first-ball duck.

But Guptill and Williamson restored order with a 159-run stand, a New Zealand ODI record for the second wicket, to set the side up before a lengthy rain delay shortened the match by seven overs.



When play resumed, New Zealand were set a revised target of 53 off 45 balls, which they reached with two balls to spare and with the help of a contentious umpire's call.

With 27 balls remaining and New Zealand still 38 runs short of their target, Corey Anderson appeared to have been caught behind but was given not out and Pakistan had used up their review.

The ODI series win added to New Zealand's golden summer after they also beat Pakistan 2-1 in the Twenty20s and beat Sri Lanka in Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s.

In the decider against Pakistan, Azhar Ali won the toss and opted to bat first which initially proved productive.



While Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez were together it looked like they would threaten the Eden Park ODI innings record of 340.

Even with Hafeez back in the pavilion, Pakistan were 207-3 with 20 overs remaining.

But they were soon to run out of steam with their last six wickets falling for 63 runs and they were all out for 290 with 15 balls remaining.

McCullum's comeback was very brief after being sidelined for five weeks by a back complaint.

The first ball he faced from Mohammad Amir was hooked to long leg where Mohammad Irfan took a smart catch on the run.

Enter Williamson to partner Guptill in a record stand, two better than the previous best 157 which Guptill had set with McCullum four years ago against Zimbabwe.

Azhar removed the pair in the space of eight deliveries.

Guptill was first to go for 82 caught at point by Hafeez, and Williamson was stumped for 84.

Azhar may consider himself a part-time bowler but showed all the guile of a career leg-spinner when he outwitted Williamson charging down the wicket by getting the ball through to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Henry Nicholls, who set up the first ODI win, and Grant Elliott both fell cheaply as New Zealand slipped from 165-1 to 210-5.

Lusty hitting from Anderson with 35 off 29 narrowed the gap and with six required off the last over, Mitchell Santner hit boundaries off the first and fourth deliveries to get New Zealand home.