Pakistan will take on in-form but depleted New Zealand in the first ODI of a three-match series on Monday at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. The 2nd ODI will be played on Thursday at Napier.
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A mid-innings collapse, however, saw Pakistan lose their last seven wickets for 68 runs despite New Zealand being a bowler short in the absence of Mitchell McClenaghan, who suffered a blow to his eye while batting and was forced to retire hurt. Pakistan has excluded injured Shoaib Malik from playing elven. The Kiwis managed 280 courtesy a heroic stand by Henry Nicholls and the tail-enders.
Mohammad Irfan, stung by being hit for six by Guptill, came back with a bouncer that was hooked to Wahab Riaz at long leg.
Pakistan have won the toss and will bowl first in the first ODI against the Black Caps at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
The hosts were in a perilous position at 99-6 before Mitchell Santner joined Nicholls in a 79-run stand for the seventh wicket.
“It’s nice to be able to do that”, he said, adding he was philosophical about being dropped by Mohammad Hafeez on 15.
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And then some impressive bowling, namely four for 40 from Trent Boult and three for 43 from Grant Elliott, ensured Pakistan’s response never gained any momentum and, despite Babar Azam’s 62, they were restricted to 210 all out in 46 overs. Azhar Ali (19) and Ahmed Shehzad (13) scored 33 runs for the first wicket before Elliott nipped out both the openers with just 37 runs on the board. “Hopefully we will all be united and with Muhammad Amir, and we will allow him to bowl really well and get wickets for Pakistan”.
