Pakistan wins 1st ODI by 3 wickets courtesy Afridi, Sohail brilliance
Afridi, Haris Sohail saved Pakistan after they were 124 for 6, Afridi scored 61, Haris scored 8
DUBAI: (Web Desk) – Pakistan survived the first ODI scare against New Zealand despite losing 6 wickets for just 124 courtesy some brilliant batting by the young Haris Sohail and Shahid Afridi. Although Afridi failed to make it to the end as he got run out when Pakistan needed just 13 runs off the last 13 balls. However, Wahab Riaz batted along with Haris Sohail through to the end and saved the day for the home side.
Shahid Afridi scored 61 runs off 51 balls with the help of 7 boundaries and a six while Haris Sohail scored 85 (not out) in 108 balls to win Pakistan the 1st ODI against New Zealand. He struck 4 boundaries and a six for his 85.
Wahab Riaz scored 9 runs off 6 balls with the help of 1 boundary and remained unbeatable.
Earlier: New Zealand sets 247-run target for Pakistan in 1st ODI. Ross Taylor s 105 played the role of a shield anchor that helped Kiwis set a compatible total.
After losing half of its side before even completing the team 100, Pakistan found itself struggling at 124 for 6 when Sarfraz Ahmad was caught at the long on boundary by Milne. However, Shahid Afridi joined the youngster Haris Sohail at the crease and playing exactly opposite to his reputation, stabilized the run chase by batting sensibly and keeping the scoreboard ticking along.
Earlier, Mohammad Hafeez (6), Younis Khan (4) and Asad Shafiq (5) disappointed the Pakistani fans big time while Ahmed Shehzad (28), skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (13) and Sarfraz Ahmad (28) all took starts but were not able to convert those starts into anything substantial.
Daniel Vettori and James Neesham got two wickets each while Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum secured 1 each.
Shahid Afridi and Haris Sohail are still at the crease with Pakistan having completed 200 runs and the match is getting into its most interesting phases.
Earlier: New Zealand sets 247-run target for Pakistan in 1st ODI. Ross Taylor s 105 played the role of a shield anchor that helped Kiwis set a compatible total.
New Zealand succeeded in scoring a compatible total of 246 runs in the first One-Day International (ODI) against Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals in the first half of the innings, Ross Taylor’s 105* helped the visitors keep their ship floating and some quick runs in the last few overs allowed them to set a testing target to chase for Pakistan.
Although New Zealand had lost 5 wickets for 111 runs yet Luke Ronchi (23), Daniel Vettori (27) and Nathan McCullum (13)*played around Ross Taylor to take the team to a respectable total.
Mohammad Irfan took 3 wickets, Wahab Riaz got 2 while Shahid Afridi secured 1 wicket.
Earlier: New Zealand loses 5th wicket as Afridi gets Neesham plumb in front. Latham was looking good but was undone by some excellent work by Younis Khan at short extra cover.
New Zealand has completed its 100 runs in the 26th over of the game for the loss of 4 wickets. Shahid Afridi, however, did not let their partnership for the fifth wicket last long as he got the new batsman James Neesham plumb in front on a ball that came in sharply and got Neesham stuck at the backfoot.
Visitors lost their 4th wicket at 99 when Latham and Ross Taylor looked for a quick single and some exceptional fielding by Younis Khan at short extra cover caught Latham struggling to maki it to the crease.
Earlier, Pakistan had won the toss and chosen to field first. New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Opener Brownlie was the first to go when Ahmed Shehzad caught him off Mohammad Irfan’s bowling. Next was Williamson and he also fell victim to an Irfan’s rising ball. He was caught behind after scoring 10 runs.
19 runs later, AP Devcich was caught by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmad off Wahab Riaz’s bowling and the biggest partnership of the game has so far been the fourth one between Ross Taylor and Latham which was broken by Younis Khan at 99.
Ross Taylor and James Neesham are still at the crease. Irfan has taken two wickets while Wahab Riaz has so far secured 1.
