Boult hat-trick fuels New Zealand’s win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi ODI
Trent Boult became the third New Zealand bowler to claim a one-day international hattrick as his side defeated Pakistan by 47 runs in the first match in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Pace spearhead Boult reduced Pakistan to 8 for 3 in their chase of 267 after he dismissed Fakhar Zaman (one), Babar Azam (nought) and Mohamed 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 child.
“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 topscored 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.
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.
BRIEF SCORES
New Zealand: 266 for 9 in 50 overs (Ross Taylor 80, T. Latham 68, Shaheen 4-46, Shadab 4-38)
Pakistan: 219 all out in 47.2 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 64, Imad Wasim 50, Boult 3-54, Ferguson 3-36)
Result: New Zealand won by 47 runs