WELLINGTON: Having an upper-hand over the Green Shirts, New Zealand on Friday registered another victory against Pakistan by 15 runs in the fifth and final One Day International (ODI), completing a 5-0 clean sweep.
Chasing a respectable target of 272, the visitors managed to put up a decent fight with 256 runs on board for all out and six balls remaining.
The top order disappointed yet again after quick dismissal of three batsmen. Right-arm pacer Matt Henry dismissed Umar Amin at 2, Fakhar Zaman at 12 and Babar Azam at 10.
Pakistan were only 31 when it lost three wickets. Mohammad Hafeez’s partnership with Haris Sohail lasted for only 21 runs when Hafeez was dismissed at 6 by Locki Ferguson.
Pakistani skipper Sarfraz Ahmed made his way back to the pavilion at 3. The Green Shirts were 57 when half of its batting line-up was in the pavilion.
The middle order batsmen and tailenders put up immense resistance to avoid a whitewash before they got out with six balls still remaining. Both Haris Sohail and Shadab Khan scored 63 and 54 runs respectively.
Earlier, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill celebrated 100 runs during the 5th one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the Basin Reserve in Wellington
Martin Guptill scored a century as Pakistan limited New Zealand to a modest 271 for seven in the fifth ODI.
Guptill and Colin Munro gave the hosts a flying start before Rumman Raees helped spark a mini-collapse that put the brakes on New Zealand’s scoring.
Rumman’s three for 67 kept the New Zealand total within reach for Pakistan as they seek to avoid a 5-0 series whitewash.
Munro racked up 34 from 24 balls to get the Black Caps out of the blocks before edging to Mohammad Nawaz.
While Munro’s departure slowed the run rate, Guptill was content to steadily accumulate.
He had a life on 72 when he slipped over mid-wicket and Faheem Ashraf missed the stumps as the batsman scrambled back to the crease on his hands and knees.
It gave his innings greater urgency and he brought up his 13th ODI century off 125 balls, including 10 fours and a six.
After a frustrating morning, Pakistan’s attack enjoyed some late success when they took four wickets for 12 runs.
Guptill was dismissed soon after he reached triple figures and Faheem clean-bowled Ross Taylor to end a threatening knock on 59.
Colin de Grandhomme offered some resistance with an unbeaten 29 off 21 balls but Pakistan will back their chances of reaching the target of 272 in the small boundaries at the Basin Reserve.
