Moin slams Pakistan's 'pathetic fielding'

Pakistan captain Moin Khan blasted his team's "pathetic" fielding after four dropped catches helped New Zealand to win the fifth and final one-day match and take the series 3-2 on Wednesday.

"Our fielding was pathetic," Moin said after New Zealand's four-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.

"If we had grabbed the opportunities when they came we would have won the game. We were in a good position because they had a big target to chase. We dropped crucial catches that cost us the game."

Shoaib Akhtar missed both Nathan Astle, who hit 119, and fellow opener Stephen Fleming, who made 60, as they shared a New Zealand record stand for any wicket in one-day internationals of 193.

Fleming was also dropped by Shahid Afridi, and Azhar Mahmood dropped Roger Twose off the first ball he faced.

As well as the catches missed, the Pakistan ground fielding was particularly ragged.

Skipper Fleming said the opening partnership had been a worry for his side throughout the New Zealand summer, and the initial target for him and Astle was to get to 85.

"We really wanted to get a good start, and I had a funny feeling about today. I had been struggling sink puts on the golf course and suddenly yesterday I came right."

Fleming said keeping Pakistan's total below 300 was crucial from a psychological point of view and he was full of praise for the efforts at the end of the innings when four wickets fell in just nine balls.

"That pressure in the last five overs was crucial," Fleming said. "If you keep taking wickets, there is not much they can do."

Moin said fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who limped off after bowling five overs but returned to capture two wickets with consecutive balls, was "feeling a bit sore".

The first Test of Pakistan's three-match series against New Zealand starts in Auckland on March 8.

Mail Cricket Editor