Rain washes away Pakistan’s hopes of series win over Kiwis

DUBAI: Persistent rain dashed Pakistan’s hopes of beating New Zealand in a one-day series for the first in seven years on Sunday after the third and final match in Dubai had to be abandoned.

New Zealand, set a daunting 280-run target against a potent Pakistan bowling attack, were 35-1 after 6.5 overs when rain halted play.

That left the series tied at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first match by 47 runs while Pakistan claimed the second by six wickets. Both games were played in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan have not beaten the Kiwis in a one-day series since their win in New Zealand in 2011, having lost in 2014 (2-3 in UAE), 2015 (0-2 in New Zealand), in 2016 (0-2 in New Zealand) and in January 2018 (0-5 in New Zealand).

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said his team had been in a good position to force a series win.

“It’s sort of disappointing end,” said Sarfraz. “But you can’t fight with nature, we were in a good position after a good total and then got a key wicket.

“We didn’t do well in the first game, but overall we were the better side and had we won this match it would have been icing on the cake.” Pakistan had posted a strong 279-8 after Sarfraz won the toss and opted to bat and then their spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi had dismissed Colin Munro for nought in the first over.

When rain stopped play, George Worker was unbeaten on 18 and Henry Nicholls was 15 not out.

Pakistan batted well as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail all contributed before Lockie Ferguson took a career best 5-45 for 11 wickets in the series.

Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez (19) put on 64 for the first wicket before Hafeez dislodged a bail with his heel while working Ferguson to long leg,, bringing Azam to the crease in the 14th over.

Zaman hit eight boundaries in his eighth one-day half century before being caught on the long-on boundary off Colin de Grandhomme for 65.

Azam then paced the innings during a third wicket stand of 108 with Sohail.

Sohail struck two sixes and six boundaries in his 59-ball 60 before he was caught in the deep off Ferguson. Azam faced 100 balls for his 92, but that included just four fours and one six.

He finally fell in the 49th over as he tried to reach his ninth one-day hundred, caught in the deep off Trent Boult, small consolation for the left-arm seamer whose 10 overs cost 80 runs.

Pakistan lost four wickets in the last two overs and scored only 38 runs in the last five.

Ferguson’s previous best of 3-17 came against the West Indies at Christchurch in December last year.

New Zealand were without their skipper Kane Williamson, who pulled out with a groin injury. Tom Latham led the side.

Pakistan left out Imamul Haq on precautionary grounds after he suffered a blow to his helmet in the second match on Friday.

The two teams now play a series of three Tests, with the first starting in Abu Dhabi on Friday (Nov 16).

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN

F. Zaman c Henry b Grandhomme 65

M. Hafeez hit wicket b Ferguson 19

Babar Azam c Nicholls b Boult 92

Haris Sohail c Worker b Ferguson 60

Shoaib Malik c Worker b Henry 18