Sport

Pakistan wins ODI series

07:39 am on 4 May 2023

Tom Blundell runout Photo: AFP

Pakistan has won the ODI series against New Zealand following a 26-run win in game three in Karachi.

Pakistan lead the five match series 3-0.

Chasing 288 for the win the Black Caps were bowled out for 261 in the last over.

Will Young and Tom Blundell got the tourists off to a great start putting on 83 for the opening wicket.

Young made 33 and Blundell 65.

There were useful knocks from Daryl Mitchell with 21, Tom Latham 45 and an unbeaten 62 from debutant Cole McConchie late in the innings.

However they lost too many wickets to put any pressure on the home side.

Captain Latham admitted the wicket did change a bit when they were batting.

"It (the pitch) probably slowed up a little bit.... just a couple of partnerships here and there, and things could have been a little different," Latham said in the after match interview.

"At the half-way mark, we were happy and the bowlers certainly improved after the first two games.

"From a batting point of view, we had a really good start (Young and Blundell), we just could not continue that momentum after we lost a couple of wickets.

"When you are chasing scores like that, you need back-to-back partnerships. We were not quite at our best (from a batting point of view) today."

Earlier after being sent in Pakistan made 287 for six.

Inform Fakhar Zaman, who scored centuries in the first two games, made just 19, but his opening partner Imam-ul-Haq hit 90 off 107 balls.

Babar Azam scored 54.

Matt Henry was the most successful bowler taking three wickets for 54 runs, while Adam Milne took two and Cole McConchie one.

The last two games are also in Karachi with game four Friday night.