BSP-13 Boult destroys Pakistan as New Zealand take series

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ZCZC

BSP-13

CRICKET-NZL-PAK-LEAD

Boult destroys Pakistan as New Zealand take series

DUNEDIN, New Zealand, Jan 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A withering spell by Trent
Boult saw New Zealand destroy Pakistan by 183 runs in the third one-day
international to comfortably wrap up the series in Dunedin on Saturday.

Boult rocked Pakistan with three wickets in five balls to take out the
cream of their top order on his way to figures of five for 17.

New Zealand, batting first, were restricted to 257, with their innings
boosted by 11 off the final over before Boult was dismissed on the last ball.

Then, after Boult’s near unplayable overs, Pakistan were all out for 74 in
the 28th over to give New Zealand an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match
series.

At eight for 32, Pakistan were threatening two unwanted records — the
lowest ODI score of 35, held by Zimbabwe, and Pakistan’s own lowest score of
43 — before Sarfraz Ahmed (14 not out), Mohammad Amir (14) and Rumman Raees
(16) delayed the inevitable finish.

Boult was in action in the second over when Azhar Ali was caught by Ross
Taylor at first slip without scoring.

Dangerman Fakhar Zaman was bowled for two and Taylor also caught Mohammad
Hafeez for a duck in Boult second over and Pakistan were in a hole they were
never going to get out of.

If New Zealand thought they were slow making 37 for one off the first 10
overs, Pakistan were in dire trouble at nine for three at the same stage.

But when struggling to stay afloat, Babar Azam was unnecessarily run out
for eight to start another slide.

In the following over Shoaib Malik was caught by Taylor off Lochie Ferguson
for three and seven balls later part-timer Colin Munro bowled Shadab Khan for
without scoring and Pakistan were 16 for six in the 15th over.

With light drizzle falling, but not strong enough to send the players off
the field, Faheem Ashraf gave Pakistan supporters something to cheer about
when he top-edged Lochie Ferguson for six.

But on 10 Faheem was gone hooking Ferguson to Todd Astle at fine leg,
before Boult came back to claim Amir and Rumman to end the innings.

Pakistan came to New Zealand on a nine-match winning streak and the promise
of providing a more formidable opposition for New Zealand who had just swept
a series against the West Indies.

After losing the first two matches they arrived in Dunedin needing to win
and had their tails up when Munro went for eight in the second over.

But half-centuries to Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor plus 45 for Martin
Guptill set New Zealand up.

Williamson never looked particularly fluent but reached 73 off 101
deliveries while Taylor made 52 off 64 deliveries.

Pakistan did look smart in the field and finished with a flourish taking
seven wickets for 48 in the last eight overs.

BSS/AFP/MR/1058 hrs