New Zealand inflicted a rare 5-0 one-day international series whitewash
over Pakistan yesterday with a 15-run win at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.
A century to Martin Guptill helped the Black Caps set a 272 total that
proved too much for Pakistan after Matt Henry tore through their top
order.
Pakistan were all out for 256 with one over remaining.
It is only the third time Pakistan have been on the wrong end of a 5-0
ODI clean sweep after they succumbed by the same margin to Australia in
2010 and the West Indies in 1988.
New Zealand have won by a 5-0 margin only once before, when they hosted the West Indies in 2000.
The target should have been achievable, given the short boundaries at
the Basin Reserve, but speedster Matt Henry ensured Pakistan made a
disastrous start.
Called up to give Trent Boult a break, Henry made the most of his
opportunity to take three wickets in three overs and skittle the
tourists’ top order.
He ended with figures of four for 53, while spinner Mitchell Santner took three for 40.
Pakistan slumped to 57 for five before Haris Sohail and Shadab Khan
combined for a 105-run partnership that steadied the innings. It ended
when Sohail tried to loft the ball over the fence but misread Santner’s
slower delivery and instead offered Henry a straightforward catch.
His departure on 63, with Shadab following soon after on 54, seemingly ended Pakistan’s faint hopes of victory.
Faheem Ashraf (23), Aamer Yamin (32) and Mohamed Nawaz (23) all made
late cameos but lack of wickets ultimately proved costly when Rumman
Raees was dismissed with six balls remaining.
guptil
