WELLINGTON, Jan 17: New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was a relieved man after his team won a thrilling final One-day International against Pakistan by just four runs on Saturday to take the five-match series 4-1.
Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq set up a grandstand finish with a 40-ball 89, including five sixes, and had he not got out in the penultimate over playing another expansive shot Pakistan would surely have won a memorable game.
"The standard of cricket today was great and the win sets up the rest of the summer with the series against South Africa coming up," Fleming told reporters before singing Razzaq's praises.
"Day in and day out this guy (Razzaq) is by far the best hitter I've seen," Fleming added. "He can turn matches just like that."
Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said Pakistan's effort would give them confidence for next month's historic home series against India but felt the margin of defeat in the series was harsh.
"We weren't as bad as 4-1 losers," he said. "At least we won the Test series, so we can say the tour was a success."-Reuters
