Pakistan suffer dramatic collapse in decider

Abu Dhabi: New Zealand played like a team while Pakistan hardly looked like one as they collapsed to 100 for 8 after 30 overs in the third and final one-day International here at the Zayed Cricket Stadium last night.

Set to score 212 for a win, Pakistan made a mess of their run chase as they hurtled to defeat after a strong start. From 47 for no loss, they went reeling to 86 for 8. After Vettori broke the opening stand when he dismissed Khalid Latif for 19, Salman Butt was run out for the second time with 25 and after that the floodgates opened.

Earlier, Saeed Ajmal's career-best haul of 4 for 33 could not have come at a better time, both for his team as well as the under-pressure skipper Younus Khan.

Ajmal, who was called for a suspect action last year, has battled hard and after Saqlain Mushtaq, has been bearing the load of a regular spinner with Shahid Afridi.

With only a 2 for 16 against the West Indies in the Champions Trophy this year to boast of as his best, Ajmal along with Afridi hurt the Kiwis in their most vulnerable area.

While the first half of the Kiwi innings after Daniel Vettori had won the toss belonged to Brendon McCullum, it was Ajmal, Afridi and Shoaib Malek who spun a web around the high-flying Kiwis.

With a match-winning century in the previous match under his belt, McCullum was once again in a belligerent mood as he belted three huge sixes and six boundaries in his 76 off 78 balls.

With the New Zealanders sailing smoothly at 138 for 2 midway through the innings, it looked like Pakistan were losing the battle.

However, Malek caught and bowled McCullum and that wicket seemed to have spurred the Pakistanis on. Salman Butt, who dropped a couple in the earlier matches then came up with a direct throw to send Scot Styris back and after that Ajmal took centre-stage.

The off-spinner, who had earlier dismissed Martin Guptill, struck in tandem with Afridi.

Ross Taylor, who failed to score in both the earlier matches, looked to be heading for a solid score as he struck only one six and no fours in his knock of 44. However, Taylor was done in by the spin of Ajmal and became the first of four leg before victims to fall in quick succession.

An Afridi googlie got rid of Neil Broom while skipper Vettori fell while trying to sweep Ajmal. The off-spinner then got his fourth with the scalp of Jacob Oram and from 187 for 4, New Zealand slipped to 184 for 7.

Ajmal almost made it a fiver but Younus could not reach a miscued shot from last man Southee but did take a catch as Aamer cleaned up the tail. From 187 for 4 to 211 all out with 3.3 overs still left was not what Vettori would have hoped when he won the toss but it was a determined display by the Pakistani spinners to give their batsmen a real chance of lifting the Cool & Cool Cup.