HAMILTON: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 138 runs in the second Test in Hamilton on Tuesday to secure a clean sweep of their two-Test series.
The visitors batting suffered spectacular collapse losing nine wickets after tea against the low-ranker home side.
Set a target of 369 in their second innings, Pakistan were all out for 230 with less than six overs remaining in the match.
Sami Aslam scored 91 and Azhar Ali 58 while for New Zealand Neil Wagner took 3-57 and Tim Southee 2-60.
New Zealand, who won the first Test in Christchurch by eight wickets, claim their first series win over Pakistan in 31 years.
Aslam and Azhar Ali (58) produced a 131-run stand for the first wicket, and with Babar Azam not out on 16 the tourists were set for a final showdown at Hamilton’s Seddon Park.
It was not a foreign situation for Pakistan. When they required 292 in 62 overs at lunch it evoked memories of an epic run chase in Sharjah two years ago when they smacked 302 in the fourth innings in 57.3 overs to beat Sri Lanka.
Despite the Seddon Park wicket still offering some support to the bowlers on a flattening pitch, Azhar and Aslam partnership provided an outside chance of win to Pakistan.
Pakistan required 211 runs off 204 balls in the post tea session of the test match to level the series.
The defeat in Hamilton Test consign Pakistan to fourth place in ranking below England and Australia.
At the top of the innings, Azhar and Aslam were resolute with their best performances of the series although Aslam had two heart-stopping moments.
On 31 he was given not out on an lbw appeal when Kane Williamson debated too long on whether to go for a referral and his chance to request a review timed out. Replays showed Aslam was plumb in front.
He could also have been run out on 45 had Mitchell Santer’s throw from midwicket been fast and direct to the wicketkeeper.
Aslam brought up his sixth 50 in nine Tests carving a Neil Wagner bouncer to the boundary. Azhar, standing in as captain for the unavailable Misbah-ul-Haq, faced 147 deliveries before he reached his 23rd half century with a single off Matt Henry.
But his patient innings ended soon after when he went to drive Santner out of the ground only to drag the ball back on to his stumps.
