The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kiwis win series

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Tuesday, Nov 10, 2009
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Kiwis win series

ABU DHABI (UAE): New Zealand beat Pakistan by seven runs to win the third and final one-day international here on Monday, taking the three-match series 2-1.

A last-wicket partnership of 103 runs between Saeed Ajmal and Mohd. Aamer almost took the game away from New Zealand, which seemed to be cruising to a big win with Pakistan at 101 for nine.

Earlier, a haul of four wickets by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal helped Pakistan restrict New Zealand to 211.

With the series level at 1-1, New Zealand had the advantage when it won the toss on a pitch full of runs, with opening pair Brendon McCullum and Aaron Redmond making a promising start as they put on 72 for the first wicket. However, Ajmal and the other spinners gradually applied the brakes.

McCullum reached 76 before being caught and bowled by Shoaib Malik. His departure with the score on 138 for three triggered his team’s slide and an end to the innings in the 47th over.

It was a sharp contrast from New Zealand’s bright start, with McCullum bringing up his half-century in quick time after 47 balls, aided by six boundaries and three sixes.

Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul failed to trouble the opening pair and McCullum was particularly severe on Aamer, pulling him for two sixes over the square leg boundary. Gul provided the first breakthrough when Redmond’s top edge went to Aamer at third man. Ajmal ensured that Martin Guptill did not stay long with a brilliant diving catch from captain Younus Khan as the ball dipped on him and flew wide of mid-off.

McCullum and Ross Taylor then went about again consolidating the innings and put on 50 runs for the third wicket. McCullum closed the face of his bat early and only managed to spoon a catch back to the bowler. Salman Butt, who continued with a recent string of poor efforts in the field, made amends as he got Scott Styris run out at the non-striker’s end with a direct hit. — AP

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