ABU DHABI: Skipper Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor hit half-centuries while paceman Matt Henry recorded career-best bowling figures as New Zealand thumped Pakistan by 68 runs in the fifth and final one-dayer in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Williamson’s 97 and Taylor’s 88 were the cornerstone of New Zealand’s 275-4 before Henry’s 5-30 helped dismiss Pakistan for 207 in 43.3 overs for a 3-2 series win at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Henry took the first three of the four wickets as Pakistan were struggling at 38-3 before Haris Sohail (65) and Ahmed Shehzad (54) put on 69 for the fourth wicket.

Henry then returned for his second spell to dismiss Shehzad followed by Sarfraz Ahmed (26) and Shahid Afridi (13) to improve on his previous best of 4-38 on debut against India at Wellington in January this year.

It was Pakistan’s 12th defeat in the final games of a series after they were tied at 1-1 or 2-2.

Their only win came against Zimbabwe in 2012.

Defeat left Pakistan without a one-day series win in 2014 after losing in Sri Lanka 2-1 and to Australia 3-0.

“It’s nice to win,” said Williamson. “It was such an up and down series and very tough but it’s good to win against Pakistan.”

Pakistan were off to a disastrous start when opener Nasir Jamshed was leg-before wicket in the first over to Henry for nought.

Henry then took the wickets of Younis Khan (12) and Shehzad (54) to leave Pakistan struggling at 107-4.

In between, Anton Devcich took the wicket of Asad Shafiq (seven) and Nathan McCullum dismissed Umar Akmal for six.
Sohail hit five fours and a six off 74 balls while Shehzad’s knock of 81 balls had only two boundaries.

Shehzad was caught while Sohail was bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan, ending Pakistan’s hopes of a win.

Afridi found enough positives despite the loss with the World Cup in February and March fast approaching.

“I congratulate New Zealand for the win,” said Afridi, who deputised for Misbahul Haq, injured in the second game.

“We have quite a few positives but our fielding needs to improve before the World Cup.”

Earlier Williamson and Taylor propelled New Zealand to 275-4 in their 50 overs.

Williamson added an invaluable 116 for the third wicket with Taylor before top-edging a sweep off leg-spinner Afridi and was caught behind.

He hit eight boundaries off 119 balls, following up on his 123 in the series-levelling win on Wednesday, also in Abu Dhabi.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2014