An uncharacteristically responsible innings from Shahid Afridi and brilliant batting by youngster Haris Sohail helped Pakistan record a stunning three-wicket win in the opening ODI match last night against New Zealand.
– #Quiz360: WIN a six-month Target Gym membership
– In Pictures: Pakistan Vs New Zealand second T20 match
Afridi (61 in 51 balls) and Sohail (unbeaten 85 in 109 balls) came together at 124-6 and raised 110 runs for the seventh wicket as Pakistan reached the target of 247 runs with three balls to spare.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq had won the toss and decided to put in New Zealand to bat.
Their competent total of 246 for seven was built around a very well compiled knock of 105 in 135 balls by Ross Taylor – his third consecutive ODI hundred after the successive hundreds he made against India in January.
It was the first time Afridi had faced more than 25 balls in an ODI in the last 17 months, but more remarkably, the big-hitting Pakistani star had just one six in his innings, and that too came after he reached his 50.
It was only the second time in his 385-match career that Afridi made reached 50 without hitting a six.
The 25-year-old Sohail, who was later adjudged the Man of the Match, was playing only his fifth ODI innings, but he batted with maturity way beyond his age.
He built his innings with patience, eschewing the shots early on and reaching his 50 with just two boundaries in 73 balls.
Veteran Daniel Vettori not only bowled well, taking two top-order wickets of Ahmed Shehzad and Younis Khan, but the oldest Kiwi in the field also took a stunning catch to get rid of Misbah.
The Pakistan captain played what looked like a safe lofted shot when on 13, but Vettori ran several steps backward from mid-on, then flung himself towards the ball and caught it with his outstretched left hand.
Earlier, the 30-year-old Taylor shouldered the responsibility of being the most experienced batsman in the team (Vettori and Kyle Mills have played more matches) as wickets kept falling around him.
Anton Devcich and Dean Brownlie started well for the Kiwis, but after looking good during his brief stay, Brownlie was the first to go as he square cut Mohammad Irfan and Shehzad took a superb diving catch at point.
Irfan quickly made it 44-2 when captain Kane Williamson top-edged an intended pull for wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed to take an easy catch.
That was when Taylor walked in, and by the time he reached 41 in the 29th over, half the side was back in the pavilion for 111.
Taylor had looked anything but comfortable in his stay till then, but he grew in confidence and added 58 runs with Daniel Vettori (27) for the seventh wicket, and 44 runs with Luke Ronchi (23) for the sixth as New Zealand inched towards a respectable score.
Taylor reached his 50 in 86 balls, but picked up pace later and his next 55 runs came in just 49 balls.
Irfan finished with 3-57, and the tall paceman was easily Pakistan’s most impressive and most successful bowler. Riaz took 2-51.
