1st ODI: All’s not well in Wellington as Pakistan suffer big loss

Tourists suffer seven-wicket defeat despite half-centuries by Afridi, Misbah.

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 capitalise on a lifeline when 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 shots, leaving Pakistan reeling 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 left, right and centre.

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 scoring 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.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2015.

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