SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
Pakistan lost the first ODI of the two-match series by seven wickets as New Zealand cruised to an easy total of 211 runs on Saturday with more than 10 overs remaining at Wellington.
Pakistan lost Muhammad Hafeez in the first over when he was bowled by Kyle Mills for nought and soon Ahmed Shehzad (15) and Younus Khan (9) were also sent packing as the scoreboard read 32-3 in the 12th over.
Captain Misbahul Haq then accompanied by Haris Sohail (23) led Pakistan’s cause but the latter didn’t last long and gave away his wicket when the partnership seemed to have stabilized the team.
Umar Akmal (13) and Sarfraz Ahmed (5) came in to play little cameos but both of them couldn’t make a noticeable difference.
Enter the crowd-pleaser Shahid Afridi who forgot his ear plugs this time around and struck the first ball he faced for a boundary over covers.
He then ravaged the pressure created by the Kiwi bowlers and scored 67 off just 29 balls. Meanwhile, Misbahul Haq anchored the innings for Pakistan and scored a steady 58 off 87 balls to consolidate Pakistan’s position.
In their reply, New Zealand were aggressive from the very starting with captain Brendon McCullum (17) and Martin Guptill (39) taking the charge onto the bowlers from the very starting.
McCullum was dismissed by Bilawal Bhatti but the Kiwis never went under pressure and kept scoring at a constant rate before Ross Taylor (59*) and Grant Elliot (64*) lead their side to a comprehensive win.
Misbah praised Afridi’s performance in the post-match presentation ceremony and also said that while defending low total one needs to get wickets but that didn’t happen for Pakistan.
He commented on his comeback from injury as well saying he felt good after scoring runs in the warm-ups leading to this series.
Conversely, McCullum was a happy man and said that the team performed really well in all three departments. The bowlers swung the ball, Guptill is not away from a big score and the winning partnership was very well-thought out.
Grant Elliot was nominated the man of the match for his three wickets and unbeaten 64. He said experiencing Irfan bowling at you was something he had never felt.
The second ODI of the two-match ODI series, which NZ now lead 1-0, will be played on February 3, 2015 at Napier.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
