Pakistan beat NZ in third ODI

Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq each grabbed three wickets as Pakistan beat New Zealand in a one-day international on Thursday to go 2-1 up in their five-match series.

The tourists won by 28 runs after being put in and making 243 for nine, then dismissing New Zealand for 215 with 10 balls of their innings remaining.

An opening burst by Akram and fellow pacebowler Waqar Younis quickly reduced New Zealand to 18 for three in reply, all but guaranteeing victory.

Wasim trapped both openers, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming (1) and Nathan Astle (10), leg before and Waqar had Roger Twose caught behind, also for a single.

Craig McMillan (64) and Lou Vincent helped salvage the situation with a 100-run stand before a terminal middle-order collapse. Adbur Razzaq, the architect, removed McMillan and Chris Harris in the same over to make it 152 for six.

Adam Parore, with an unbeaten 34, and 41 extras provided the only other major contributions. Akram took the last wicket to finish with three for 41 and off-spinner Saqlain, who helped mop up the tail, three for 26.

Pakistan's top score came from opener Saeed Anwar, who made 57 from 92 balls before being run out.

There was only one partnership worth more than 50, Anwar and Saleem Elahi putting on 60 for the second wicket.

Imran Nazir, opening with Anwar, cracked a breezy 32 from 23 balls to give the innings impetus.

Yousuf Youhana added 47 after Inzamam-ul-Haq was caught by Twose off a lazy shot to short third man for 12. Daryl Tuffey and James Franklin also took three wickets each but both proved costly, Franklin's eight overs costing 61.

Scoreboard

Pakistan
Saeed Anwar run out (Vincent) 57
Imran Nazir c Fleming b Tuffey 32
Saleem Elahi c & b Harris 30
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Twose b Harris 12
Yousuf Youhana c Astle b Franklin 47
Abdur Razzaq c Vincent b Franklin 8
Moin Khan c Astle b Tuffey 15
Wasim Akram c Vettori b Franklin 9
Azhar Mahmood b Tuffey 17
Waqar Younis not out 5
Saqlain Mushtaq not out 1
Extras (w-6 nb-2 lb-2) 10
Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 243
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-105, 3-132, 4-152, 5-172, 6-202, 7-216, 8-229, 9-242.
Bowling: Tuffey 9-0-52-3 (w1), Martin 7-1-30-0 (w1, nb1), Franklin 8-0-61-3 (w1, nb1), Vettori 10-1-43-0 (w1), Harris 10-0-31-2 (w2), Astle 6-0-24-0.

New Zealand
S.Fleming lbw b Akram 1
N.Astle lbw b Akram 10
R.Twose c Moin b Waqar 1
C.McMillan c Youhana b Razzaq 64
L.Vincent st Moin b Saqlain 34
C.Harris lbw b Razzaq 11
A.Parore not out 34
D.Vettori b Mahmood 7
J.Franklin b Saqlain 8
D.Tuffey c Elahi b Saqlain 3
C.Martin b Akram 1
Extras (w-6 nb-7 lb-25 b-3) 41
Total (all out, 48.2 overs) 215
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-16, 3-18, 4-118, 5-152, 6-152, 7-161
Bowling: Akram 9.2-0-41-3 (w1 nb1), Waqar 10-1-43-1 (w2 nb1), Mahmood 10-0-33-1 (w2 nb1), Razzaq 10-0-44-2 (nb4), Saqlain 9-1-26-3 (w1).

Result: Pakistan won by 28 runs. Pakistan lead five-match series 2-1

Man of the Match: Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan).

Mail Cricket Editor