NZ vs PAK, 5th ODI, Review: New Zealand complete the whitewash as Pakistan go down fighting

New Zealand have completed a clinical whitewash of Pakistan as they defeated them by 15 runs in the fifth and final ODI of the series. Basin Reserve at Wellington hosted one of the closest game in the last couple of weeks. The Kiwis continued their dream run at home as they have not lost a game across the formats this summer. However, it was the visitors who won the hearts after putting up a stunning fight by the lower order batsman.

Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat first as the home side rested Trent Boult bringing in Matt Henry. The Men in Green made as many as three changes to their line-up. Mohammad Nawaz, Umar Amin and Aamer Yamin found a place in the playing XI. While Sohaib Malik didn’t recover from the concussion, Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali were dropped for not performing to their potential.

Colin Munro swung his bat at everything in the powerplay and scored 34 off 24 deliveries providing his team with a breezy start yet again. Martin Guptill kept his cool and went about his business from the other end as the skipper Williamson failed to deliver yet again. Ross Taylor then joined the opener as the duo played risk-free cricket concentrating on rotating the strike. They added 112 for the third wicket as Guptill notched up his 12th magnificent century in the format.

His innings was studded with 10 fours and a six even as New Zealand was set to launch an assault on the visitors. But they lost wickets in the final overs courtesy some excellent death bowling from Rumman Raees and Faheem Ashraf. In the end, the hosts were restricted to 271/7, the score which looked like going over 300 at one stage.

Top order lose the plot yet again

The bowlers had done the decent job once again for Pakistan and they needed their batsmen to stand tall for one final time in the series. But they failed yet again and soon crumbled to 57/5 in 17 overs. Fakhar Zaman couldn’t replicate his heroic knock in the first game even as his partner Amin also was sent back. Babar Azam’s tour summed up with yet another low score. Mohammed Hafeez and Sarfraz Ahmed also followed suit not willing to stay at the wicket.

Stunning fightback

Haris Sohail and Shadab Khan put up a great show in the middle and resurrected the innings by putting up a century stand. Both notched up their respective half-centuries but were dismissed in successive overs to leave their side reeling at 171/7 with only 10 overs to go. Everyone including the home side must have thought of wrapping up the proceedings soon but the lower order had other ideas. Faheem, Aamer and Nawaz played their shots fearlessly and took the score very much close to their target.

Even the last wicket added 21 runs which gave the jitters to New Zealand. Aamer Yamin led the fightback with an unbeaten 32 but unfortunately ran out of partners as Raees scooped a slower bouncer in the air and the catch was safely pouched by Lockie Ferguson with the hosts completing a comprehensive whitewash of the visitors. Matt Henry scalped 4/53 while Mitchell Santner picked three as the Kiwis were always favourites to win the game.

Guptill was awarded Man of the Match and Man of the Series for his consistent show with the bat throughout the series.

Brief Scores

New Zealand 271/7 after 50 overs (M Guptill 100, R Taylor 59; R Raees 3/67)

Pakistan 256 after 49 overs (H Sohail 63, S Khan 54; M Henry 4/53, M Santner 3/40)

Result: New Zealand won by 15 runs

Man of the Match: Martin Guptill

Man of the Series: Martin Guptill

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