New Zealand gets the formula right and takes emphatic win into series decider

Cricket's a simple game when it is played properly and runs are achieved by the top order.

New Zealand looked a different team when handing out a record 138-run hiding to Pakistan at Christchurch's Jade Stadium in the fourth match of the National Bank series today.

It is New Zealand's highest winning margin against Pakistan, and the fourth highest against all nations.

New Zealand totalled 284/5 and benefited from the best top order start of the home summer.

Skipper Stephen Fleming was out for a duck but a 101-run partnership for the second wicket between Nathan Astle (71) and Roger Twose (42) gave New Zealand a foundation it has long sought.

At 113/3 there was the potential for disaster, but Astle and Craig McMillan added 53 for the fourth wicket and while Lou Vincent followed for four from another interesting leg before wicket call that went against the home team, the stage was set for McMillan and Chris Harris to add 112 for the unbroken sixth wicket.

It was a situation tailor-made for Harris, coming in with 15 overs remaining, wickets in hand and bowlers on the ropes. He finished 39 not out off 56 balls and the greatest fault in his innings may have been telling McMillan, erroneously as it turned out, that he had achieved his century.

McMillan was on 97 with four balls of the innings left. Fortunately, although losing the strike at one stage, he had one chance to secure his century and he did with a six over mid wicket and out of the ground.

He achieved the feat with five sixes and six fours and off 75 balls, to equal the record held by Chris Cairns set on the same ground against India two years ago.

Pakistan seemed to find demons in the pitch where none existed for New Zealand.

The continued development of Daryl Tuffey and James Franklin as one-day exponents continued apace. Success against Pakistan is invaluable as it is one of the better combinations in the one day game when on song.

But when as off key as today, it appears more vulnerable than most.

The loss of Saeed Anwar to the last ball of the first over immediately diminished Pakistan's prospects.

He offered a chance which was well taken by Astle fielding at second slip.

Franklin didn't want to be left out and his first ball accounted for Imran Nazir, caught at deep fine leg by Tuffey for a duck.

Then in the third over Azhar Mahmood was caught by wicket-keeper Adam Parore from Tuffey's bowling for one.

A splendid piece of Vincent fielding resulted in Yousuf Youhana being run out. So quickly executed was Vincent's throw that Youhana was well short of his ground, although the third umpire was called in before the decision was made.

Saleem Elahi was then victim to one of the most consistent themes running through this series, the number of batsmen getting out to the first ball of bowlers's new spells. He hit one in Harris' direction backward of point and was well held, out for 13.

Then the final blow occurred to extinguish whatever remote thoughts there may have been of getting up to be competitive when Abdur Razzaq was caught at long off by Tuffey for 31.

At 71/6 in the 26th over, it was all over.

With the required run rate up over 13 an over, the injured Inzamam-ul-Haq and skipper Moin Khan decided to make the most of the chance for some open air batting practice.

It short-changed the crowd which might have liked to have seen some more action but as the win belonged to the home team there was little concern.

The effort was another triumph for Tuffey who took three for 30 while Astle's three wickets in one over at the bottom of the innings came at the cost of seven runs.