Abu Dhabi: Skipper Kane Williamson’s brilliant 97, Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 88 and Matt Henry’s career best figures of 5 for 30 saw New Zealand complete their tour of the UAE on a high clinching the ODI series 3-2 by beating ‘hosts’ Pakistan by 68 runs in the fifth and final match at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Williamson was like a silent assassin and simply cut his opposition to size after electing to bat. The young batsman first was involved in a 66-run partnership with Dean Brownlie (34) and later in a 116-run third wicket stand with Taylor.
Though it was a do-or-die match, the visitors didn’t field a full squad but little did it affect the outcome of the series. A string of injuries in the New Zealand camp – Corey Anderson and James Neesham carrying groin ailments and Daniel Vettori returning home to attend his brother's wedding – forced the Kiwis to summon two local UAE players, Ahmad Raza and Chirag Suri, as substitute fielders. Suri even took the field after Anton Devcich hurt his shoulder going for a catch.
The Kiwis lost opener Martin Guptill cheaply to Mohammad Irfan but Williamson rose to the occasion and was simply at his best. The wristy skipper was calm, composed and timed his shots to perfection right from ball one. It was on this same wicket that Williamson scored a match-winning century knock of 123 two days ago to keep the Kiwis’ series hopes alive.
The 24-year-old also completed 2,000 ODI runs as he scored his 13th ODI fifty in his 59th match. The stylish batsman was in line for a well-deserved second successive hundred but his opposite number Shahid Afridi denied him that feat. It was the Pakistan skipper's last over and Williamson tried to sweep him while on 97 but the ball managed to kiss his glove and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmad held it gleefully.
Williamson’s knock featured eight fours in 119 deliveries.
Taylor stayed until the end and his 88 off 97 deliveries and a useful contribution of 22 from Tom Latham, saw Kiwis set Pakistan a challenging total of 276.
Pakistan’s run chase was rocked early with the wicket of Nasir Jamshed, out leg before for a duck on a delivery from Henry which the former wanted to refer but decided against it after consultation with non-striker Ahmad Shehzad. The television replay showed the ball pitched outside leg.
After that blow Pakistan could not find the impetus and with the wicket of centurion from the last match, Younis Khan (12), they were in troubled waters.
Then Devcich left the hosts reeling at 38 for 3 by getting rid of Asad Shafiq leg before.
Shehzad (51) and Haris Sohail (65) tried to resurrect the innings with a 69-run stand.
However, once Henry broke that partnership with the wicket of Shehzad the task became all the more daunting.
The scoreboard pressure forced Sohail to err and he was castled by McClenaghan attempting an over-ambitious shot.
Sarfraz Ahmad (26) followed immediately, Henry once again doing the damage and Pakistan were reduced 174 for 7.
Henry then completed his five-wicket haul with the prize wicket of skipper Afridi and Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 207 in 43.3 overs.
