It was the kind of walloping the Black Caps wouldn’t soon forget as both batsmen gave Pakistan their fourth successive century stand of the series, this time of a monumental 197 runs, with Imran smashing 107 and Yasir an unbeaten 127, helping their side to an imposing total of 277 for four.
It was the home team’s best-ever opening stand against New Zealand that erased the previous mark of 194 held by Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti in the 1999 World Cup. It was also the highest first-wicket partnership by any team against the Black Caps.
The New Zealanders were wary of the openers’ potential, but perhaps not aware they could prove as deadly as the batsmen followed up on their partnerships of 115, 142 and 134 in the last three games for what was a record of successive century partnerships.
Yasir, named joint Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the Series with Imran, scored was his second in One-day Internationals, accumulated 356 runs at an average of 89 while Imran had 348 runs averaging 69.6, having four fifties and a hundred, his maiden century in one-dayers.
A total of 278 for victory appeared difficult to chase for a New Zealand side without several regular players and in the end they scored 228 for six.
But openers Craig Cumming and Richard Jones, for the first time in the last three games, gave them a start of some significance putting on 50. It was Abdul Razzaq who separated them, trapping Cumming leg before in the 17th over.
Then Jones and Mathew Sinclair added 56 for the second wicket before Imran brought about the fall of Jones just when he stood on the brink of a half century with a direct throw from square leg for 49. He went after scoring four boundaries and a six to Razzaq.
Sinclair did well in making 36 but was run out by Azhar Mahmood in the 36th over and captain Chris Cairns fell for just six runs a little later.
But as long as the exciting Hamish Marshall was at the crease, New Zealand still had some hope with 118 runs needed in the last 10 overs. However, despite his fine unbeaten 62, the touring side could not prevent the defeat and finished their 11-day tour on a dismal note. Tama Canning remained not out with 23.
Pakistan had chosen to bat after winning the toss with Yasir and Imran quickly settling down against an attack that did not seem to have a clue how to keep the rampaging batsmen in check.
Imran was the first to reach his fifty, his fourth on the trot in the series that came off 51 balls while Yasir got to that mark in 76 deliveries — both batsmen achieving the honour in the 21st over of the innings. It was Yasir’s fifth consecutive half century and came following scores of 52, 53, 63 and 61.
As the touring bowlers sweated to break the partnership, success did not seem to come, Imran flogging them with 12 characteristic boundaries before getting to the magical three-figure mark.
It was an impressive innings by the left-hander who needed 109 balls to reach his hundred in the 39th over. However, in a bid to step up the pace, he went for a big one in the very next over, only to hit into the lap of Jacob Oram off Canning, who finished with two wickets.
Once Imran got his century, it was only fair that Yasir too
got there. And he did in the 45 over, and unlike his opening partner, continued to play on beyond that mark to stay unconquered.
Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik and Moin Khan had brief stays at the wicket with Yasir but all three were a disappointment. Azhar, playing in only his second match of the series, remained unbeaten on eight.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN:
Yasir Hameed not out 127
Imran Farhat c Oram b Canning 107
Abdul Razzaq c Hitchcock b Canning 2
Shoaib Malik run out 4
Moin Khan c Canning b Hitchcock 14
Azhar Mahmood not out 8
EXTRAS (B-6, LB-2, W-5, NB-2) 15
TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs) 277
FALL OF WKTS: 1-197, 2-204, 3-209, 4-249.
DID NOT BAT: Saleem Elahi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed.
BOWLING: Tuffey 8-1-48-0 (3w); Oram 6-1-23-0 (1nb); Cairns 7-0-38-0; Hitchcock 9-0-56-1 (1nb, 2w); Walker 10-0-45-0; Canning 10-0-59-2.
NEW ZEALAND:
C.D. Cumming lbw b Abdul Razzaq 17
R.A. Jones run out 49
M.S. Sinclair run out 36
H.J.H. Marshall not out 62
C.L. Cairns c Shabbir b Shoaib Akhtar 6
J.D.P. Oram run out 1
B.B. McCullum lbw b Azhar 5
T.K. Canning not out 23
EXTRAS (LB-12, W-10, NB-7) 29
TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 228
FALL OF WKTS: 1-50, 2-106, 3-141, 4-155, 5-158, 6-179.
DID NOT BAT: M.D.J. Walker, P.A. Hitchcock, D.R. Tuffey.
BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 8-1-36-1 (6w); Shabbir Ahmed 10-1-34-0 (3nb, 2w); Abdul Razzaq 9-0-46-1 (3nb); Azhar Mahmood 10-0-42-1 (1w); Shoaib Malik 10-0-33-0 (1w); Imran Farhat 2-0-18-0; Yasir Hameed 1-0-7-0 (1nb).
RESULT: Pakistan won by 49 runs to clinch series 5-0.
UMPIRES: Nadeem Ghauri (Pakistan) and D.L. Orchard (South Africa).
TV UMPIRE: Asad Rauf (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE: D.T. Lindsay (South Africa).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH (joint): Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed
MAN-OF-THE-SERIES (joint): Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed.