Boult locks up series as Caps crush Pakistan
The Black Caps trounced Pakistan by 183 runs in Dunedin to seal their five-match ODI series with two games to play.
Defending 257 at the University Oval, swing bowler Trent Boult snared 5-17 as New Zealand skittled the tourists for a measly 74 in 27.2 overs.
It marked New Zealand’s 10th consecutive win across all formats, equalling a mark they’d previously achieved twice, and continued the Black Caps’ unbeaten record at the ground.
Zimbabwe’s record for the lowest ever ODI score – 35 versus Sri Lanka in 2004 – was under serious threat when Colin Munro bowled Shadab Khan to leave the visitors reeling at 16-6 within 15 overs, as was Pakistan’s lowest score of 43 (against the West Indies in 1993).
While they avoided the complete embarrassment of breaking the unwanted records, you’ll be hard pressed to find any Pakistan players or fans smiling in the wake of the humiliating defeat.
With the West Indies already dispatched in all three formats this summer, and Pakistan on the ropes, many Kiwi fans were crying out for a contest before the looming series against Australia and England.
A contest looked on the cards when the Black Caps, who elected to bat first, butchered a solid platform by losing their last seven wickets for 62, only for Boult to reduce Pakistan to 2-3 inside four overs.
With Ross Taylor taking three sharp catches at first slip – Azhar Ali (0), Mohammad Hafeez (0) and Shoaib Malik (3) – it was as good as game over.
Having eked through to 9-3 in 10 overs, they quickly slumped to 15-5 four overs later after Babar Azam was run out by a sharp Mitchell Santner throw, and right-arm quick Lockie Ferguson edged out Malik.
Part-timer Munro even chipped in with two wickets. He can thank captain Kane Williamson for his second, after he snaffled a onehanded screamer at mid-wicket to dismiss Hasan Ali.
While it didn’t come back to haunt them, the Black Caps might look back at their final 10 overs with the bat and shake their heads.
Williamson (73), Taylor (52) and Martin Guptill (45) set a fine launching platform on a slow and low wicket, as the home side appeared poised to set a big total at 195-3 after 40 overs.
But the Black Caps, bowled out with the final ball of their innings, could only muster 62 more at the windy University Oval.
The home side will no doubt acknowledge Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Rumman Raees’ 3-51, bowled smartly, but some of the batsmen won’t be in a rush to watch replays of their dismissals.
Allrounder Todd Astle will probably top the list, having meekly lobbed a slower delivery from Raees to Fakhar Zaman at midwicket.
Pakistan spinner Khan started the rot, taking two wickets in as many balls, including a brilliant, one-handed caught and bowled to dismiss Henry Nicholls for a golden duck.
Williamson’s game-high 73 from 101 balls was far from one of his prettiest innings, as he kept his head down and grafted to his 33rd ODI half-century.
Taylor, who is set to become the seventh Kiwi to play 200 or more ODIs when the teams meet again in Hamilton on Tuesday, raised his 40th ODI half-century in 59 balls.
Zimbabwe’s record for the lowest ever ODI score – 35 versus Sri Lanka in 2004 – was under serious threat.