Hamilton [New Zealand], April 2: New Zealand secured the ODI series against Pakistan with an emphatic 84-run victory in Hamilton on Wednesday. With this win, the Kiwis lead 2-0 in the three-match series and will now aim for a clean sweep in the final ODI at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
Sears’ Five-Wicket Haul Wrecks Pakistan
The star of the match was Ben Sears, who delivered a stunning bowling performance in just his third ODI. After going wicketless in his first two matches, Sears emerged as the standout bowler, claiming a brilliant 5/59.
Chasing 293, Pakistan suffered an early collapse:
- Will O’Rourke dismissed Abdullah Shafique (1) early.
- Babar Azam (1) fell to Jacob Duffy, who also removed Imam-ul-Haq (0), leaving Pakistan struggling at 9/3 in 5.3 overs.
- Salman Agha (9) was dismissed shortly after, making it 31/4 in 11.1 overs.
- Captain Mohammad Rizwan (5 off 27) failed to anchor the innings and perished cheaply.
- Tayyab Tahir (13) and Mohammad Wasim (1) also fell quickly, deepening Pakistan’s troubles.
Despite a spirited fightback from Faheem Ashraf (73 off 80) and Naseem Shah (51 off 44), Pakistan could not recover. They were bowled out for 208, with Sears leading the charge with five wickets, while Duffy took 3/35.
New Zealand’s Strong Batting Performance
Earlier, New Zealand posted 292/8 in their 50 overs, with a mix of early aggression and middle-order resilience.
- Openers Rhys Mariu (18) and Nick Kelly (31) provided a quick start before Kelly fell at 54/1 in 6.2 overs.
- New Zealand reached 100 in 15.3 overs, but lost key batters Daryl Mitchell (18) and Henry Nicholls (22) in quick succession.
- Captain Michael Bracewell (17) was dismissed by Mohammad Wasim, leaving the team at 132/5.
- Muhammad Abbas (41) and Mitchell Hay then stitched together a crucial 77-run partnership.
The highlight of New Zealand’s innings was Mitchell Hay’s unbeaten 99 off 78 balls, which included seven fours and seven sixes. His sensational knock helped the Kiwis reach a competitive total, earning him the Player of the Match award.
For Pakistan, Sufiyan Muqeem (2/33) and Mohammad Wasim (2/78) were the most effective bowlers.
Final ODI on Saturday
With the series in the bag, New Zealand will look to complete a 3-0 whitewash when they take on Pakistan in the final ODI at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.