Mitchell Hay’s spirited and exhilarating 99 not out, supported by some spirited seam bowling, propelled New Zealand to a commanding 84-run victory over Pakistan, thus securing an unassailable lead in their one-day international (ODI) series.
New Zealand posted an impressive total of 292-8, and skillfully bowled Pakistan out for 208 in the 42nd over at the picturesque Seddon Park in Hamilton, during the second of three ODIs on a thrilling Wednesday.
Hay’s vigorous hitting broke a mid-innings stall by the hosts as he dashed to a personal best score, which included a dazzling 22 runs off the final over delivered by Mohammad Wasim.
The wicketkeeper-batsman dazzlingly smashed seven exquisite fours and an equal number of towering sixes during his dynamic 78-ball innings, stepping into the fray as New Zealand wobbled at 132-5 in the 27th over.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s top order faced immediate turmoil when Will O’Rourke delivered a sharp ball, leading to Abdullah Shafique (1) being expertly caught at first slip in the third over. The following over saw Babar Azam (1) succumb to a similar fate, caught at second slip off a precise delivery from Jacob Duffy.
Duffy continued his assault in his very next over, claiming the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq. Pakistan found themselves in dire straits at 9-3 in the sixth over, contrasting starkly with New Zealand’s strong start at 50-0 at the same point.
In a gripping display of cricket prowess, Ben Sears made a remarkable entrance into the attack, swiftly capturing two wickets in his inaugural over. His skillful bowling dismissed Salman Agha for just 9 runs and claimed the key wicket of Mohammad Rizwan at a mere 5 runs.
Through a blend of poorly chosen shots and some spirited seam bowling, Pakistan found themselves struggling at 32-5 after a challenging 12-over stretch.
Tayyab Tahir, contributing a determined 13, teamed up with Faheem Ashraf to forge a crucial partnership, adding 33 runs for the sixth wicket. The plot took another twist when Haris Rauf had to retire hurt after scoring only 3 runs, leading to his replacement, Naseem Shah. Shah’s tenacity shone through as he joined forces with Ashraf, amassing an impressive 60-run partnership.
Both posted their maiden fifties, with Ashraf scoring 73 off 80 deliveries and Naseem making 51 from 44.
Sears took 5-59 for New Zealand.