Saqlain and Razzaq shatter Kiwis

Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdur Razzaq shared seven wickets as Pakistan blew away New Zealand with a seven-wicket victory in the Sharjah triangular series on Sunday.

Off-spinner Saqlain ran through the lower order to finish with four for 17 after seamer Razzaq removed the top three New Zealand batsmen to return three for 22.

Their combined efforts helped Pakistan bowl out New Zealand for just 127 in 31.1 of their 50 overs, the last six wickets tumbling for 21.

Only opener Chris Nevin offered some resistance to the charged-up Pakistan attack, scoring 50 off 40 balls with five fours.

Pakistan, who have completed their round-robin matches with four wins in as many matches, knocked off the required runs in 25.2 overs as Inzamam-ul-Haq lashed 85 off 67 balls, with two sixes and 12 fours.

The Pakistanis made a shaky start, losing Saeed Anwar and Iman Nazir with only 17 scored, but Inzamam put paid to New Zealand hopes of an upset victory.

Inzamam was in attacking mood, smashing off-spinner Brooke Walker for 18 in one over, as he surpassed Anwar as the leading run-getter in Sharjah.

When Inzamam, playing his 47th match in Sharjah, had scored 42 he beat Anwar's tally of 2,054 runs in this off-shore Gulf venue.

New Zealand, without a win in three matches, are as good as out of the tournament, though they still have one match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

However, even if they win that, their net run rate is so inferior to Sri Lanka's that they have little realistic chance of reaching the final.

The New Zealanders had started the game in a positive frame of mind, racing to 79 for two by the 12th over when Nevin hooked Razzaq straight Mohammed Sami, who took an excellent catch at fine leg.

New Zealand faltered after his dismissal, with Sami taking two quick wickets in the middle order and Saqlain, later named man of the match, polishing off the tail.

Mail Cricket Editor