Sharjan series: Pakistan coast to eight-wicket win
Pakistan toyed with an inexperienced New Zealand bowling attack to register a comprehensive eight-wicket win in the third match of the triangular one-day series in Sharjah on Thursday night.
Set to score 267 after New Zealand, electing to bat, were helped to a healthy 266 by a maiden one-day century by Matthew Sinclair, Pakistan batsmen stroked at will to reach 270 for two in 42.1 overs for their second successive victory in the series.
Saeed Anwar, who top-scored with an unbeaten 81 and Inzamam-ul Haq, not out on 71, coasted their side to victory after Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir had hammered the New Zealand bowlers into submission.
Afridi really went after the bowling hitting seven fours and six sixes in characteristic style in his 70 that came off just 43 balls. Afridi and Nazir, who made 35, added 113 runs for the opening wicket to lay a perfect base for Pakistan's win.
Both got out in quick succession at the same total but that was all the New Zealand bowlers got as Anwar and Inzamam continued the onslaught.
Earlier, Sinclair hit a sedate 117 off 144 balls to give his side a challenging total of 266 for seven in their allotted 50 overs.
The depleted New Zealand team, who are without eight of their regular players, were off to a good start scoring at over five and half an over in the first fifteen overs despite losing two wickets.
Sinclair combined with his captain Craig McMillan to raise 80 runs for the third wicket to take his side to 151 for two by the 30th over.
Afridi forced the breakthrough for Pakistan when McMillan played on to a delivery after making 46 from 52 balls.
But Sinclair, playing his 12th game, stayed on and batted till the 49th over. He was finally out caught by Shoaib Malik off Abdur Razzak. His knock included six fours.
Chris Harris chipped in with 29 off 35 balls towards the end of the game, which was a must-win for New Zealand to survive in the series.
Mail Cricket Editor
