Devon Conway (101) and Kane Williamson (85) put on 181 runs for the second wicket on a spin-friendly wicket in Karachi before their bowlers came up with a collective effort to help New Zealand level the series with a 79-run win in Karachi on Wednesday (January 11).
The Conway-Williamson partnership was crucial in New Zealand being able to post 261, with the rest of the batters failing to come to terms with the pitch as Mohammad Nawaz (4-38) helped Pakistan fight back with the ball. Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan in the chase but his 79 came off 114 deliveries as New Zealand kept the scoring in check throughout the innings, eventually managing to bowl the hosts out for 182.
Pakistan’s chase did not start on a bright note as the openers departed in successive overs. Fakhar Zaman was caught behind off Tim Southee attempting a drive while Imam-ul-Haq top-edged a Lockie Ferguson delivery to backward square leg. In the first power play, Pakistan’s progress was slow, but Babar gained some restrictions as he managed only 31 in the first 10 overs.
Mohammad Rizwan made a lucky break when Tom Latham failed to keep the ball when he gloved a delivery from Michael Bracewell in the 12th over. Giving just four, Mitchell Santner hit the final ball of the 20th to bowl Rizwan (28 of 50), ending a 55-run, 99-ball streak. Spinner continued to strangle Pakistani hitters without conceding a single limit on 62 deliveries. The hosts could only manage 83 at halftime of the innings and the required rate he had over 7.
The Babar-Harris-Sohail association also lacked urgency, with just 22 carries in the stands followed by 41 deliveries, with Sohail eventually being sacked for 21-ball 10 by Glenn Phillips. Aga Salman hit two 4s in a lively partnership with Babar before being 25 out. Babar recorded his 50th RBI soon afterward and pitched 86 in a stretch, helping the slower bowlers somewhat. Wickets were of no avail on the other side as Nawaz fell to his Bracewell who finished 29–1 while Babar started to find the limit.
Usamamir shot his 4 and 6 before hitting his delivery short from Southey to the keeper with a grab as Pakistan fell to his 158/7. The formula was 96 from the last 10 overs, with Babber being the only allowed batsman. However, New Zealand did not let Pakistan come even closer when Wasim came up short when Sodi stumped Babar and caught Harris Rauch in the long off to end the game in 43 overs.
Earlier, Nawaz had made a strong comeback for Pakistan after the second wicket his pair Devon Conway and Kane Williamson built a big stand. A strong visitor at 183/1 in 30 overs added only 78 more as Nawaz took 4 wickets in 3 overs and finished with a 4-wicket draw for the third time in the ODI, taking the cream off New Zealand’s batting machine sequence. I could not do it.
Naseem Shah struck early to sack Finn Allen in the opening and arrogantly ducked him to cover where Nawaz held a sharp catch. Williamson and Conway then recorded his 10 fours in his first eight overs, confidently maintaining the boundaries of driving, batting, pulling and flicking. Williamson had some respite during his partnership with Conway, who began to explore boundaries after a few quiet overs. Scored his three reverse fours before and collected 89-ball 100 in pairs in the same over.
However, Naseem’s return saw Conway bowled out, ending the second wicket stand worth 181. This started the slide when Nawaz picked up wickets from Darryl Mitchell and Latham in the same over, followed by the dismissal of Williamson, who was run over by a sharply distant delivery.Phillips also fell for Nawaz. , Mir and Rauf each took the wicket and dismissed Bracewell and Ish Sodi respectively. Naseem pocketed his third on Southee’s wicket, but in the end he hit Santner for six and a useful 36 before departing for the last time.
Brief scores: New Zealand 261 in 49.5 overs (Devon Conway 101, Kane Williamson 85; Mohammad Nawaz 4-38, Naseem Shah 3-58) beat Pakistan 182 in 43 overs (Babar Azam 79, Mohammad Rizwan 28; Tim Southee 2-33, Ish Sodhi 2-38) by 79 runs.