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KARACHI: With a quick 63-run effort, New Zealand batsman Glenn Phillips drove his side to a two-wicket victory against Pakistan in the ODI series decider.
Set to chase 281, New Zealand reached the mark on the first delivery of the 49th over, with Phillips’ quickfire 63-run knock.
The visiting side got off to a good start in their run chase, with openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway putting on a key 43-run stand before Allen was run out in the eighth over after scoring a run-a-ball 25.
Following the loss, Conway and skipper Kane Williamson spearheaded the run chase with a tenacious partnership that carried New Zealand beyond the 100-run mark before Agha Salman got his maiden ODI wicket and provided Pakistan with a much-needed breakthrough.
Conway hit 52 off 65 balls, including five boundaries and a six.
Williamson then teamed up with Daryl Mitchell for another crucial partnership for his team, adding 52 runs for the third wicket before both Mitchell fell for 31.
New Zealand skipper Williamson then reached his 42nd half-century, but he did not last long, being run out for 53 off 68 deliveries with two boundaries.
Phillips came out for his side with New Zealand suffering at 181/5 after Michael Bracewell’s dismissal in the 36th over and flipped the game on its head with clean hitting, putting Pakistan bowlers under strain.
Despite no help from the other end, the right-handed batsman hit a quickfire half-century off just 28 deliveries, bringing New Zealand back into the game.
Despite Phillips’ brilliance, New Zealand continued to lose wickets, but the right-handed batsman held steady and led his team to victory in the 49th over.
Phillips led the way for New Zealand, scoring an undefeated 63 from 42 deliveries, smashing four fours and four sixes.
Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Wasim Jr both grabbed two wickets, while Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir each took one.
Pakistan batted first after winning the toss and recorded a respectable 280/9 on the board, thanks to a stunning century and a half-century from Fakhar and Rizwan, respectively.
The hosts got off to a bad start, losing two early wickets, including skipper Babar Azam, for 21 runs in the eighth over.
Following the defeat, Fakhar and Rizwan scripted an incredible comeback for Pakistan, adding 154 runs during their third-wicket stand and bringing Pakistan back into the game.
Rizwan was the stand’s main aggressor, as he kept the scoreboard ticking with his smart strike rotation, while Fakhar served as an anchor.
The duo frustrated the Kiwi bowlers and were expecting their team to reach 300 runs when Ish Sodhi delivered a much-needed breakthrough in the shape of Rizwan.
Rizwan’s crucial 79-run effort was ended by a googly from the leg-spinner. He faced 74 pitches and blasted six home runs.
Following Rizwan’s departure, Fakhar kept pushing for runs and eventually reached his century. The left-handed hitter, however, died soon after reaching the milestone and remained his team’s highest scorer in the series finale.
Fakhar hit 101 off 120 balls, including 10 boundaries and a six.
Agha Salman, on the other hand, stayed steady at one end as wickets tumbled at the other until succumbing in the penultimate over after a crucial 43-ball 45.
New Zealand’s bowling assault was headed by veteran bowler Tim Southee, who took three wickets, while Lockie Ferguson took two. Spinners Sodhi and Michael Bracewell each struck out one batter.
