Boult to hat-trick

Boult’s performance was a reminder – if we needed one – of his immense value to the Black Caps and, alongside captain Kane Williamson, the man they could least afford to lose at the World Cup.

After the T20 series went to form so did the ODIs, with New Zealand back in their favoured format and continuing their stranglehold over Pakistan in 50-over cricket.

Taylor (80) and Tom Latham (68) carried on from last summer anchoring the innings of 266-9 with late cameos from Southee and Ish Sodhi averting a mini collapse against legspinner Shadab Khan (4-38).

Now they can close it out back at Sheikh Zayed Stadium early tomorrow and clinch a third successive ODI series over Pakistan in the UAE after 2009 (2-1) and 2014 (3-2).

‘‘They’re a quality side and the big challenge is to come over here and beat them in conditions like this,’’ Boult said.

Multiple ODI hat-trick takers:

GETTY IMAGES Trent Boult, right, completes his hattrick against Pakistan and Tim Southee, left, and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson rush to join the celebrations.