Wisden
Sharjah Cup, match 3

New Zealand v Pakistan

At Sharjah, April 11 (day/night). Pakistan won by 51 runs. Pakistan 4 pts. Toss: Pakistan.

A beautifully constructed 288 from Pakistan left New Zealand scrabbling for runs. Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir peppered the boundary and when Afridi went, in the 14th over, they had already blitzed 98. Franklin and Butler were shellshocked, forcing Fleming to eke out overs from eight bowlers. Only Styris was economical: his ten overs of medium-pace all-sorts cost the same as four of raw pace from Butler. Styris shook Pakistan with three wickets in 15 balls, but a consolidating hundred partnership by Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan lit the fuse for some late fireworks - 28 in 16 balls - from Wasim Akram. No one had ever won at Sharjah chasing more than 285. Nevin harried, with aggressive hits over extra cover, but New Zealand could not maintain the rate and were forced into reckless shots.

Man of the Match: Inzamam-ul-Haq.

© John Wisden & Co