Continuing their unbeaten run, New Zealand completed a remarkable clean sweep over Pakistan in their ODI series, crushing the visitors by 43 runs in the third and final match on Saturday at Bay oval. This victory saw the Kiwis dominate the series with a 3-0 scoreline, leaving Pakistan with a lot to ponder.
Chasing a target of 265 runs, Pakistan suffered an early blow, with opener Imam-ul-Haq retiring hurt. However, Abdullah Shafique (33) and Babar Azam (50) revived the chase. Still, there was a clear lack of substantial partnerships in the Pakistan batting lineup. After the departure of Abdullah and Babar Azam, the team failed to build the necessary momentum needed to get them across the line, with key players struggling to find consistency. There was a little fightback from skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Tayyab Tahir, scoring 37 and 33 respectively, but that could not be enough for them to salvage pride. They were eventually bowled out for 221.
Earlier, New Zealand, after being asked to bat first, posted a competitive total of 264/8 in their 42 overs. They were powered to a sizeable total by Rhys Mariu and skipper Michael Bracewell, who both scored priceless 58 and 59, respectively. In the middle order, Daryl Mitchell fired 43 to provide the necessary support. Meanwhile, the match had been reduced to 42 overs after being delayed by an hour and twenty minutes due to a wet outfield.