ZCZC
BSP-05
CRICKET-NZL-PAK
Williamson, Taylor lift New Zealand as Pakistan fire in 3rd ODI
DUNEDIN, New Zealand, Jan 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Half-centuries by Kane
Williamson and Ross Taylor helped New Zealand to 257 in the face of a sharply
improved performance by Pakistan in the field at the third one-day
international in Dunedin on Saturday.
With the tourists needing to win to keep the series alive after losing the
first two ODIs, they pinned New Zealand down at key times.
In the last eight overs, when New Zealand needed to lift the run rate,
they were restricted to 48 runs and lost seven wickets of which 11 runs came
in the final over.
Williamson, who uncharacteristically struggled to penetrate the field for
much of his innings, made 73 but it took 101 deliveries to get there.
Taylor made 52 off 64 for his 57th ODI half-century, equalling the New
Zealand record held by Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle.
Rumman Raees returned figures of three for 51, Hasan Ali took three for 59
and Shadab Khan took two for 51 with his wickets coming of successive balls.
New Zealand made a flying start with Martin Guptill and Colin Munro
cracking sixes for their first scoring shots but the innings stalled soon
after.
Munro only faced three balls from Faheem Ashraf in the second over — a
six, two and caught behind, and New Zealand were 15 for one after 10 balls.
Tight bowling and a slow outfield restricted New Zealand to 37 for one
after 10 overs and the pressure started to show by the 20th over as the run
rate remained around four an over.
On the first ball of the next over Williamson wanted to run two on a drive
to deep point but Guptill was too slow to respond and was easily run out for
45.
With the introduction of Ross Taylor, playing his 400th innings for New
Zealand across all formats, the pace started to quicken.
Williamson was given out leg before wicket to Shoaib Malik on 43 but the
decision was overturned on review and he went on to 73 before he was well
caught by Mohammad Hafeez on the second take off Rumman.
Tom Latham joined Taylor to maintain the pace with New Zealand 195 for
three after 40 overs.
But in the 43rd over Taylor was trapped in front by Shadab and wickets
fell regularly from there.
Henry Nicholls was caught and bowled off the first ball he faced leaving
Mitchell Santner to deny Shadab a hat-trick.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0903 hrs