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New Zealand collapsed spectacularly chasing Pakistan’s six for 183, with the top four batsmen all out for ducks as the mercurial tourists shrugged off a form slump that cost them the first two games of the three-match series.
Scott Styris was the only New Zealander who offered any resistance, scoring 45 off 34 balls as Abdul Razzaq and Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi tore through the batting line up.
None of Styris’ team mates reached double figures, dispelling the optimism that lifted the New Zealand camp after coach John Wright’s appointment before the series.
“It’s a very disappointing way to end the series... when your four top batsmen get out for nothing it’s pretty tough chasing a total,” captain Ross Taylor said, who was among those dismissed for zero.
New Zealand’s total of 80 after 15.5 overs was its lowest in Twenty20 internationals and Pakistan’s 103-run winning margin was the largest ever between two Test playing nations.
Taylor denied the Black Caps’ early victories against Pakistan had made them complacent, saying they had hoped to build momentum after a dismal run of form, which included one-day series losses against Bagladesh and India.
A buoyant Afridi said he wanted to set an imposing target after winning the toss and electing to bat on a dry wicket.
His batsmen backed him up with a sparkling display, while Afridi himself led from the front, scoring a rapid-fire 14 before snaring four for 14, including the dogged Styris.
He said the victory was a confidence booster for Pakistan, which has struggled for consistency amid corruption allegations against some of its top players.
“This is the talent of Pakistan but we should be consistent,” Afridi said.
“We’re trying to make a team combination before the World Cup (in February).
“I know we lost the series but this was a big win for us to keep our morale high.”
Openers Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez went after New Zealand’s bowlers from the outset, scoring at a rate of almost 10 an over for a partnership of 81 to give Pakistan their best start of the series.
Shehzad threw off the shackles and raced to 27 after three overs, punishing short-pitched deliveries from 18-year-old New Zealand paceman Adam Milne, who finished with figures of one wicket for 48 runs on his international debut.
Shehzad was similarly dismissive when the more experienced Tim Southee was called into the attack, hitting four boundaries off his first over.
Hafeez made 34 from 23 balls before mistiming a wide pitched delivery from James Franklin and falling to a leaping one-handed catch from Taylor.
Razzaq also pitched in with 34 not out then took three wickets for 13 in a man-of-the-match performance.
New Zealand fell apart in reply and were four wickets down for three runs in the third over.
Any hopes the home side had for a miracle were dashed when Styris went lbw to Afridi in the 14th over.
The teams will next play two Test matches in January, followed by six one-day internationals.
