NZ vs PAK, 4th ODI, Review: Colin de Grandhomme leads New Zealand to a comfortable victory

New Zealand and Pakistan locked horns in the first of the two dead rubbers in the ongoing ODI series at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The visitors were playing for the pride and it was visible the way they played. They were without any pressure of saving the series and fought intensely to catch the hosts off guard. However, New Zealand, like they often do, came out on top and won the game easily to stretch their lead to 4-0 in the series.

Sarfraz Ahmed called it correctly when the coin was flipped in the air and opted to bat first. They dropped Azhar Ali and brought in Haris Sohail while the hosts left out Todd Astle for Colin de Grandhomme. The Men in Green promoted Faheem Ashraf to open the batting alongside Fakhar Zaman, the experiment which didn’t work as he was dismissed by Tim Southee. Babar Azam‘s torrid tour continued as he could score only 3 runs getting out to the same bowler.

But Sohail and Fakhar resurrected the innings and notched up the half-centuries. There was again the period when the Kiwis picked three quick wickets and Pakistan were reduced to 130/5 in the 33rd over. Though the experience of Mohammed Hafeez came to fore who scored 81 off just 80 deliveries with 5 fours and four sixes. Even the skipper led from the front as he smashed 51 off 46 balls and Pakistan posted a competitive 262 runs for the loss of eight wickets after 50 overs.

Tim Southee was the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis who picked three wickets conceding only 44 runs. Surprisingly it was Kane Williamson who picked 2/32 bowling full quota of his overs.

de Grandhomme storm hits Pakistan

The chase began as usual with the openers Martin Guptill and Colin Muno provided the home side with a great start. They added 88 runs in 14 overs before Shadab Khan wrecked havoc as New Zealand lost four wickets and were left reeling at 99/4. The skipper Williamson and Henry Nicholls then added 55 for the fifth wicket as the former succumbed to the part-timer Haris Sohail.

But the arrival of Colin de Grandhomme changed the game dramatically towards the hosts. He pummelled every bowler who came his way and smashed as many as five sixes to end the chase with more than 4 overs to spare. The all-rounder remained unbeaten on 74 off just 40 deliveries. Nicholls played a calm and supporting hand to him scoring 52 off 70 cherries.

Pakistan had no answer to the assault as the bowlers kept on bowling the favourable lengths for the batsman. Shadab Khan was excellent with his leg-spin bowling and finished with the figures of 3/42 as Rumman Raees and Sohail were the other wicket-takers.

Kiwis would look to whitewash the visitors by winning the final game now as Pakistan would badly want to get on the board after getting so close in this game.

Brief Scores

Pakistan 262/8 after 50 overs (M Hafeez 81, F Zaman 54, S Ahmed 51, H Sohail 50; T Southee 3/44, K Williamson 2/32)

New Zealand 263/5 after 45.5 overs (de Grandhomme 74*, C Munro 56, H Nicholls 52*; S Khan 3/42(

Result: New Zealand won by 5 wickets

Man of the Match: Colin de Grandhomme

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