Pakistan rout Kiwis

Pakistan thrashed New Zealand by 51 runs on Thursday to throw open the race for the finals in the three-nation Sharjah Cup.

Electing to bat in the day-night international, Pakistan unleashed its batting might to pile up 288 for six from 50 overs before restricting New Zealand to 237 for eight.

Pakistan missed a bonus point narrowly as the Kiwis passed the danger mark of 230 in the 49th over after being 187 for seven at one stage.

But the emphatic win meant that Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand ended the first round of the double-leg preliminary league with one victory each.

The top two teams will advance to the final of the event next Wednesday.

Inzamam-ul Haq and Younis Khan put on 105 for the fifth wicket to lift Pakistan to the highest total of the tournament so far.

Inzamam made 68 and Younis 56, to build on an explosive start by Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir, who smashed 98 off 86 balls for the first wicket.

New Zealand, already without six top players including star all-rounder Chris Cairns, suffered another blow when captain Stephen Fleming missed the match due to a finger injury sustained in the previous game.

Stand-in captain Craig McMillan lost the toss and then saw Afridi and Nazir give Pakistan a rousing start.

Afridi struck seven boundaries and three sixes in a whirlwind 56 off 53 balls, while Nazir contributed 47 off 46.

New Zealand's start was not as dramatic with main hope Nathan Astle falling in the fifth over, caught by a diving Rashid Latif behind the stumps off Wasim Akram.

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis bowled Matthew Sinclair for zero in the next over and when the dashing Chris Nevin fell for 40, the Kiwis were struggling at 65-3 in the 14th over.

McMillan and Chris Harris revived New Zealand's faint hopes by adding 112 for the fourth wicket, before Saqlain Mushtaq removed both batsmen in the space of three deliveries.

McMillan, who made 51, was bowled round his legs, while Harris holed out at deep square-leg for 54.

New Zealand, who had stunned Sri Lanka on Tuesday, failed to repeat that performance as Waqar finished with three for 43 and Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain took two wickets each.

Earlier, New Zealand seamer Scott Styris caused a slump in the middle overs with a career-best 4-30, but Pakistan batted well to set their rivals a target of 5.8 runs an over.

Styris bowled Afridi when he went for a big shot and then had new man Abdul Razzaq caught behind two balls later.

Styris also had Nazir and Yousuf Youhana caught behind by Nevin as Pakistan slipped from 98-0 to 146-4 in the 26th over.

But Inzamam and Younis prevented further trouble with their century stand, before veteran Wasim Akram smashed an unbeaten 28 off 16 balls to set the Kiwis a challenging target.

Mail Cricket Editor