Pakistan v New Zealand, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the third ODI, Pakistan v New Zealand, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Sharjah, December 14, 2014 (day/night). Pakistan won by 147 runs. Toss: Pakistan.
Whisper it, but it looked as if Pakistan had finally found themselves a genuine, all-purpose opening batsman. In 2014, Ahmed Shehzad had become the first Pakistani to strike centuries across all three formats, and his sixth here gave them a series lead. For all his bravado and new-age brashness, Shehzad is an old-school player, and he batted deep into the innings. Shahid Afridi, assuming the captaincy after Misbah-ul-Haq withdrew because of a hamstring injury, prolonged a rare, sustained run of form by plundering 55 from 26 balls. It propelled his side to 364 for seven, their third-highest total. Umar Akmal, recalled in place of Misbah for his 100th one-day international (none of them in Pakistan) was less fortunate: when Afridi turned down a single, Akmal was run out first ball. Mohammad Irfan ousted the openers, and Afridi mopped up three more. Somehow Haris Sohail matched that, and appeared to have morphed into a fifth bowler; so dominant were Pakistan by the end that even Shehzad got in on the act with his leg-spin. A natural showman, he had a hint of Shane Warne about his action.
Man of the Match: Ahmed Shehzad.
Whisper it, but it looked as if Pakistan had finally found themselves a genuine, all-purpose opening batsman. In 2014, Ahmed Shehzad had become the first Pakistani to strike centuries across all three formats, and his sixth here gave them a series lead. For all his bravado and new-age brashness, Shehzad is an old-school player, and he batted deep into the innings. Shahid Afridi, assuming the captaincy after Misbah-ul-Haq withdrew because of a hamstring injury, prolonged a rare, sustained run of form by plundering 55 from 26 balls. It propelled his side to 364 for seven, their third-highest total. Umar Akmal, recalled in place of Misbah for his 100th one-day international (none of them in Pakistan) was less fortunate: when Afridi turned down a single, Akmal was run out first ball. Mohammad Irfan ousted the openers, and Afridi mopped up three more. Somehow Haris Sohail matched that, and appeared to have morphed into a fifth bowler; so dominant were Pakistan by the end that even Shehzad got in on the act with his leg-spin. A natural showman, he had a hint of Shane Warne about his action.
Man of the Match: Ahmed Shehzad.