Horror day for Pakistan cricket ... Colts crash to a shocking defeat vs Afghanistan
Seniors crash to 183run defeat to hand New Zealand ODI series...
we knew we had to fight hard and to come out like that was very satisfying.” Williamson said the target now was to remain unbeaten.
“That’s the focus. The focus is trying to win each game. The guys were smart today and that’s something we pride ourselves on,” he said. “It was a fantastic performance all round. Trent was outstanding getting five.
Pakistan had slumped to eight for 32 in the 19th over and threatened two unwanted records — the lowest ODI score of 35, held by Zimbabwe, and Pakistan’s own lowest score of 43. Sarfraz Ahmed (14 not out), Mohammad Amir (14) and Rumman Raees (16) added 42 for the last two wickets but Sarfraz saw serious problems with the top order batting.
“It was very disappointing, a tough loss,” he said.
“Our bowlers bowled very well but the problems continue with the batting which again flopped. The problem is (facing) the new ball.”
Boult removed Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez in the space of five balls to put Pakistan in a hole they were never going to get out of.
After 10 overs, the tourists were three down for just nine runs and while they struggled to stay afloat, Babar Azam was unnecessarily run out.
Part-time bowler Colin Munro, with career figures of one for 203 before this match bowled Shadab Khan without scoring and had Hasan Ali spectacularly caught by Williamson for one to return figures of two for 10 off seven overs.
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 needed to win in Dunedin and had their tails up when Munro went for eight in the second over.
But half-centuries to Kane Williamson (73) and Ross Taylor (52) plus 45 for Martin Guptill set New Zealand up.
It was Taylor 57th ODI halfcentury to equal the New Zealand record held by Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle.
But his dismissal sparked a Pakistan revival in the field in which they took seven for 48 in the last eight overs.
Brief scores: New Zealand 257 in 50 overs (Guptill 45, Williamson 73, Taylor 52; Raees 3/51, Hasan Ali 3/59) vs 74 in 27.2 overs ( T Boult 5/17, C Munro 2/10). NEW DELHI: Skipper Naveen-ulhaq struck with the new ball, while Azmatullah Omarzai and Qais Ahmad took three wickets as Afghanistan defeated favourites Pakistan by five wickets on the opening day of their Group D tie in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup on Saturday.
Naveen-ul-haq reduced Pakistan to 23 for two after the twotime champions elected to bat. However an 88-run third-wicket partnership between opener Rohail Nazir (81 off 105 balls) and Ali Zaryab (30 off 58 balls) steadied the ship but the 2004 and 2006 champions could not consolidate on the stand.
Medium-pacer Azmatulllah Omarzai and spinner Qais Ahmad grabbed three wickets each as Afghanistan showed that they are capable of upsetting leading sides and are the team to watch from Group D, which also has Sri Lanka and Ireland.
Pakistan folded up for 188 in 47.4 overs, following which Darwish Rasool played an unbeaten 76-run knock to help Afghanistan reach the target in 47.3 overs. Pakistan captain
Hassan Khan praised the Afghanistan team, which has now beaten them three consecutive times after having also got the better of them twice in the
Asia Cup in November, including the final.
“They bowled and batted really well.
They outclassed us in every department, especially in the first innings. “
New Zealand too started their campaign with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over defending champions West Indies, with Finn Allen — a second-timer at the U19 CWC — emerging the star for the hosts with an unbeaten 115 in Tauranga. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe also notched wins on the opening day.