Boult hat-trick fuels NZ win over Pakistan
ABU DHABI: Trent Boult became the third New Zealand bowler to claim a one-day international hat-trick as his side defeated Pakistan by 47 runs in the first match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Pace spearhead Boult reduced Pakistan to 8 for 3 in their chase of 267 after he dismissed Fakhar Zaman (one), Babar Azam (nought) and Mohammad Hafeez (nought) in the third over.
He finished with figures of 3 for 54 as Pakistan were bowled out for 219 in 47.2 overs.
“It’s nice to be back out there and get the win for the boys,” said Boult, who missed the 3-0 loss in the preceding Twenty20 series due to the birth of his GALLE, Sri Lanka: A Keaton Jennings century helped England put Sri Lanka on the ropes in the first Test on Thursday, setting the hosts a daunting 462 to win at notoriously low-scoring Galle.
England declared at 322 for six on day three with Jennings 146 not out after a patient innings that saw him deal deftly with the home side’s spin attack.
At the close of play, Sri Lanka were 15 without loss with Dimuth Karunaratne on seven and Kaushal Silva on eight after hanging on for seven overs, with a further 447 to make at a ground where no team has successfully chased more than 99.
In the morning session a somewhat shaky Rory Burns, brought in to fill the huge shoes of the retired Alastair Cook, was run out for 23.
Moeen Ali, out first ball in the first innings, fared little better, driving straight to Rangana Herath at mid-on off Dilruwan Perera for three.
Herath, in his last game before retiring, then got England captain Joe Root out for the second time in the match, caught behind for three.
But Jennings played cautiously and looked comfortable against spin against Perera and the other spinners. An LBW appeal off Dhananjaya de Silva when Jennings was on 58 was turned down and Sri Lanka chose not to review. child. “I think the new ball is a key part of the game and we know what early wickets can do to chasing totals. The hat-trick ball I was just trying to make him play and to slide one onto the pads is a great feeling.”
Veteran batsman Ross Taylor top-scored with 80 while wicketkeeper Tom Latham struck 68 off 64 balls to lead New Zealand to 266-9 after they won the toss and batted at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
In response Pakistan crumbled to 85-6, before Sarfraz Ahmed (64) and Imad Wasim (50) added 103 for the seventh wicket. However, once Pakistan skipper Sarfraz dragged a Colin de Grandhomme delivery onto his stumps New Zealand were
Ben Stokes hit a brisk 62 off 93 balls that saw three sixes, including one back over Perera’s head and an almighty sweep high over midwicket off Dhananjaya de Silva to bring up the 300.
England made 342 in the first innings thanks to a century from Ben Foakes, filling in as wicketkeeper for the injured Jonny Bairstow.
Sri Lanka were then bowled out for 203, leaving them 139 behind, falling to a spin attack led by Ali who took four for 66.
TOUGH SUMMER Jennings’s performance will go some way to silencing his critics — many of whom were calling for him to be dropped after his poor home series against almost home and dry.
Grandhomme took 2 for 40 while Lockie Ferguson finished with 3 for 36. IN EXCLUSIVE CLUB Boult exposed Pakistan’s batting woes early on, bowling Zaman off his pads before having Azam caught at slip and then trapping Hafeez leg-before with a sharp inswinging delivery.
He joined fast bowlers Danny Morrison (v India at Napier in 1999) and Shane Bond (v Australia at Hobart in 2007) as the only New Zealanders to take an ODI hat-trick.
Imam-ul-haq (34) and Shoaib Malik (30) added 63 for the fourth wicket but both fell in successive overs before the Sarfraz-wasim stand briefly reignited hopes. Earlier, New Zealand recovered from 78-3 and then 210-7 to set a challenging target. India this summer.
After stumps on Thursday the South Africa-born 26-yearold conceded that the past half year had been “tough for me personally”, but that he relishes the pressure.
“I enjoy it. I love the process of being involved, I love the process of feeling the heat, feeling the pressure, and I suppose waking up in the morning knowing you are on a knife edge,” he said.
“So it makes today that much more special,” he said.
“I have only watched Keaton Jennings live in two test matches and he has got a hundred in both I must be his lucky charm !!!,” former England great Allan Lamb said on Twitter.