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LAHORE, April 27: Shoaib Malik produced a marvellous all-round performance and Shoaib Akhtar broke the 100-mile barrier as Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 66 runs in the third and final One-day International at Gaddafi Stadium to record their first whitewash in six years.
Shoaib Malik, replacing Saqlain Mushtaq, hit a career-best 115 to inspire Pakistan to 278 for five off 50 overs. He later returned to produce another spell of bowling of three for 37 as the visitors were sent crashing for 212 in 45.4 overs.
But the highlight of the evening Shoaib Akhtar becoming the first modern day bowler to break the 100-mile barrier. He clocked 160kph on the fifth ball of his second over to Matthew Horne and then improved it to 161 with the next ball to Craig McMillan. Jeff Thomson, however, remains the fastest bowler when he clocked 161.5 in 1975 on his home turf in Australia.
Nevertheless, Shoaib’s electrifying pace failed to earn him a wicket. The wickets were picked by Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Sami who two for 42.
New Zealand needed partnerships and a couple of big scores from the top order to offset Pakistan’s challenging score. And though all the frontline batsmen got good start, none could capitalize from them.
Skipper Stephen Fleming was a bit unlucky when he was bowled by Shoaib Malik. But television replays suggested that the ball might have dislodged the bails after rebounding from the pads of wicket-keeper Rashid Latif. However, the day belonged to 20-year-old Shoaib Malik who notched up his second century in 23rd match. His previous century was against the West Indies at Sharjah in February. The youngster struck 12 boundaries. He faced 142 balls.
He featured in two fruitful partnerships. For the second wicket with Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib added 93 from 103 balls. Youhana was dismissed when wrist spinner Brooke Walker held a good catch off his own bowling.
Youhana’s brief but entertaining 51-ball 53 included five boundaries and two sixes.
Shoaib then added 72 from 80 balls with Inzamam-ul-Haq. Inzamam chipped in with 35.
PAKISTAN:
Shoaib Malik c Butler b Adams 115
Shahid Afridi c Styris b Adams 18
Yousuf Youhana c and b Walker 53
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Tuffey b Walker 35
Misbah-ul-Haq c Butler b Tuffey 28
Abdul Razzaq not out 22
Younis Khan not out 4
EXTRAS (W-2, NB-1) 3
TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 278
FALL OF WKTS: 1-26, 2-119, 3-191, 4-250, 5-262.
DID NOT BAT: Rashid Latif, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami.
BOWLING: Tuffey 8-2-29-1 (1nb, 1w); Adams 8-0-57-2 (1w); Styris 9-0-65-0; Butler 10-0-46-0; Harris 5-0-32-0; Walker 10-0-49-2.
NEW ZEALAND:
C.J. Nevin b Waqar 2
M.J. Horne b Abdul Razzaq 28
C.D. McMillan c Inzamam b Sami 38
S.P. Fleming b Shoaib Malik 15
L. Vincent b Shahid 32
S.B. Styris st Rashid b S. Malik 19
C.Z. Harris lbw b Sami 37
A.R. Adams b Shoaib Malik 1
B.G.K. Walker run out 10
D.R. Tuffey run out 0
I.G. Bulter not out 2
EXTRAS (B-3, LB-10, W-5, NB-10) 28
TOTAL (all out, 45.4 overs) 212
FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-71, 3-83, 4-121, 5-142, 6-165, 7-169, 8-194, 9-195.
BOWLING: Waqar Younis 5-1-22-1; Shoaib Akhtar 4-0-23-0 (3nb); Mohammad Sami 8.4-0-42-2 (5nb, 2w); Abdul Razzaq 8-0-38-1 (1nb, 1w); Shoaib Malik 10-0-37-3 (2w); Shahid Afridi 10-0-37-1.
RESULT: Pakistan won by 66 runs.
UMPIRES: S.A. Bucknor (West Indies) and Aleem Dar (Pakistan).
TV UMPIRE: Nadeem Ghauri.
MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shoaib Malik.
