Pakistan v New Zealand, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the first ODI, Pakistan v New Zealand, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Dubai, December 8, 2014 (day/night). Pakistan won by three wickets. Toss: Pakistan.
Every now and again, good sense invades Shahid Afridi. When it does, he proves he can still be an outstanding batsman: smart, brave and utterly devastating. Pakistan were 124 for six when he walked in. The required run-rate wasn't steep, but little batting remained. Instead, he fed off Haris Sohail's calm, and picked off the runs as if he were Michael Bevan. He hit only one six, yet coasted his way to 61 at a strike-rate pushing 120. The pair added 110, and Pakistan crept home with three balls to spare. Arguably, Sohail's ten overs of left-arm spin earlier in the day were more pivotal. He had delivered just 68 balls in top-level cricket before this series, yet was pressed into action as a fifth bowler because of Mohammad Hafeez's bowling ban. Sohail didn't take a wicket, but delivered 30 dot balls. It meant that, despite Taylor's classy, unbeaten hundred, New Zealand never quite got away from a wafer-thin attack. Taylor became the sixth batsman - after Zaheer Abbas, Saeed Anwar, Herschelle Gibbs, A. B. de Villiers and Quinton de Kock - to make centuries in three consecutive one-day international innings.
Man of the Match: Haris Sohail.
Every now and again, good sense invades Shahid Afridi. When it does, he proves he can still be an outstanding batsman: smart, brave and utterly devastating. Pakistan were 124 for six when he walked in. The required run-rate wasn't steep, but little batting remained. Instead, he fed off Haris Sohail's calm, and picked off the runs as if he were Michael Bevan. He hit only one six, yet coasted his way to 61 at a strike-rate pushing 120. The pair added 110, and Pakistan crept home with three balls to spare. Arguably, Sohail's ten overs of left-arm spin earlier in the day were more pivotal. He had delivered just 68 balls in top-level cricket before this series, yet was pressed into action as a fifth bowler because of Mohammad Hafeez's bowling ban. Sohail didn't take a wicket, but delivered 30 dot balls. It meant that, despite Taylor's classy, unbeaten hundred, New Zealand never quite got away from a wafer-thin attack. Taylor became the sixth batsman - after Zaheer Abbas, Saeed Anwar, Herschelle Gibbs, A. B. de Villiers and Quinton de Kock - to make centuries in three consecutive one-day international innings.
Man of the Match: Haris Sohail.