NZ v Pak 1st ODI Review: A stunning comeback sees New Zealand through

The home side produced the kind of performance in the first ODI in Wellington that should please their fans to no end. After being sent into bat by Pakistani skipper Azhar Ali, the Kiwis were reduced to 99/6 but scripted a remarkable comeback to post 280/ that proved beyond the reach of the visitors. Even with the ball, the hosts were brilliant after Pakistan were well placed after 25 overs having gone past 100 and lost just 2 wickets.

Pakistan’s pace trio of Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir and Anwar Ali blew away New Zealand’s top order out, reducing them to 99 for 6 within 23 overs, but the hosts bided some time, and then struck right back in the final ten overs. Their eventual total on a fast Basin Reserve pitch, was founded on Henry Nicholls’ measured 82, consolidated by Mitchell Santner’s 48, and finished by Matt Henry (48 not out) and Mitchell McClenaghan’s (31 retired hurt) brilliant 73-run ninth-wicket stand, which came off 33 balls and featured six sixes and as many fours.

Irfan rushed Martin Guptill in the first over, and soon had Tom Latham hopping to defend short balls. Guptill couldn’t control his hook, two balls after that six, sending a high catch to Wahab Riaz, who had advanced from fine leg. Amir then had Tom Latham gloving an attempted hook behind – the decision only given after review – to have the hosts 25 for 2 in the sixth over. Pakistan should have had their third wicket in the tenth over, but Mohammad Hafeez put down a straightforward chance at slip off Nicholls, who was on 15 then.

The bowler, Anwar Ali, was intense after that drop, testing the batsmen with energetic inswing. His two deliveries broke open the New Zealand middle order, in the 16th over. Kane Williamson (10) edged a delivery onto his stumps while a ball later Grant Elliott (0) saw the ball pass between bat and pad to disturb his stumps.

Mohammad Irfan made the initial incision, and Mohammad Amir followed it up. Anwar Ali made a double-blow to the middle order, and Wahab, while wicketless, occasionally rattled the batsmen with pace. Amir and Anwar claimed three scalps apiece, but it was the pace that eventually traveled as well. Wahab and Anwar conceded more than a run a ball from their ten overs.

New Zealand lost McClenaghan’s services with the ball when an Anwar Ali bouncer burst through the gap in his helmet and struck him in the left eye. The home side was a bowler short due to his injury but it didn’t affect them much. The part-timers Elliott and Williamson shared 4 between them as Pakistan simply gifted wickets through rash strokes. Boult ran through the middle and lower order to end with a 4-fer.

Elliott filled up beautifully for the left-arm seamer, his bowling was disciplined and he was helped along by some reckless batting from Pakistan’s openers Azhar Ali (19) and Ahmed Shehzad (13). Babar Azam (62) was the only player to show fight along with Mohammad Hafeez (42) but the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals which hampered their cause. Both batsmen took the total to 118 before Hafeez was dismissed by Williamson.

Elliot removed Shoaib Maqsood to reduce Pakistan to 142/4 in 32.1 overs. Azam (62) perished to the short ball from Andeson. He gave it away he set up for a pull from just outside off but only miscued it down the throat of Nicholls at deep midwicket and at 168/5 his team looked in all sorts of trouble. Sarfraz Ahmed (30) tried to up the ante but by then, it had got too late. Pakistan will rue the lack of partnerships barring the Azam-Hafeez stand of 81. The team was eventually dismissed for 210 in the 46th over.

Brief scores:

New Zealand: 280/8 in 50 overs (H Nicholls 82; M Amir 3/28)

Pakistan 210/10 46 overs (B Azam 62; T Boult 4/40)

Man of the match: Henry Nicholls (New Zealand)