New Zealand clinches ODI series crushing Pakistan

New Zealand secured the three-match ODI series with one game to spare by defeating Pakistan by 84 runs in the second match in Hamilton on Wednesday.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Kiwis posted a total of 292 for 8. In response, Pakistan was bowled out for 208 in 41.2 overs. After winning the first match by 73 runs, New Zealand once again dominated in this game. Thanks to excellent performances in both batting and bowling, Tom Latham's team claimed the series in just two matches.

Daryl Mitchell played a key role in New Zealand’s batting, scoring an unbeaten 99 off just 78 balls, which included seven fours and seven sixes. Though he missed his century by just one run, his innings laid a strong foundation for the Kiwis. Additionally, debutant Mohammad Abbas, who has Pakistani roots, scored 41 off 66 balls. Opener Nick Healy contributed 31 runs off 23 balls, while Henry Nicholls added 22 runs from 32 balls. However, the rest of the batters couldn’t make significant contributions.

Among Pakistan’s bowlers, Mohammad Wasim and Sufiyan Muqeem took two wickets each. However, Pakistan’s fielders had a poor outing, conceding 32 extra runs, which helped their opponents.

While chasing the target, Pakistan never looked in contention for a win. None of their top five batters could even reach double digits. The sixth-wicket partnership between Faheem Ashraf and Tayyab Tahir ended at just 33 runs. Losing eight wickets for 114 runs, Pakistan found some stability with a ninth-wicket stand. Faheem and Naseem Shah built the team's highest partnership of the match, adding 60 runs in 56 balls. Both players achieved their maiden ODI fifties.

Faheem scored 73 off 80 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes before his dismissal broke the partnership. Naseem, along with Sufiyan Muqeem, added 34 runs in 22 balls for the last wicket. Eventually, Naseem was the final batter to be dismissed after scoring 51 runs off 44 balls, hitting four sixes and four fours.