An amazing turn around from the crisis that seemed to have shackled the Pakistan team. Shahid Afridi and Ahmed Shehzad's batting set the scene and once those runs were on the board, there was always going to be one winner. Pakistan now look to the final 2 ODIs in Abu Dhabi to stamp their authority on this ODI series and will have to show their doubters that this victory of 147 runs, like others in the past, is not just another flash in the pan.

By Azfar Khan (14th December, 2014)

The third match of the series started with Pakistan winning the toss (once again!) and opting to bat. Pakistan had one change for today Umar Akmal replaced injured Misbah-ul-Haq. New Zealand went with three changes as Milne, Brownlie and Vettori were out for Nathan McCullum, Martin Guptill and Neesham.

Pakistan opened their batting with Hafeez and Shehzad who faced the opening duo of Henry and McClenaghan. Pakistan started things off watchfully and changed their gears with every passing over. The two gave a flying start where they scored boundaries and sixes. During the partnership four boundaries and a six were hit by Shehzad whereas Hafeez too had 5 boundaries and a six to his name. The two made a 63 run stand in 8 overs until Hafeez edged one delivery of Anderson to Ronchi for 33 runs. 

Younis came in next at no.3 and he and Shehzad played some quiet overs in the start . Their focuse was to build a long partnership and they rotated strike with odd boundaries here and there to bring up a 50 run stand. Shehzad completed his half century during the 50 run stand and the two started to become more aggressive with their approach. Shehzad scored one six and Younis scored 3 boundaries and a six in the next couple of overs before Younis charged Nathan looking for another big shot but couldn't clear the long-on fielder Anderson who safely caught him for 35 runs.

Score was 133/2, when Shafiq arrived who looked to be struggling again at the crease. Shehzad on the other hand carried the partnership and kept the score board going by rotating the strike and hitting boundaries, he brought up his Hundred just before the powerplay. The third powerplay was started with 3 boundaries from Pakistan but Henry returned with a brilliant over for New Zealand when he dismissed centurion Shehzad and Asad in two deliveries, Shehzad was caught at mid-off for 113 runs and Asad was bowled on an inswinger for a struggling 23.

Score was 210/4 when Haris and Afridi arrived, the two attacked the bowlers in the power play especially Afridi who punished the bowlers with five boundaries and 2 sixes in matter of few deliveries. Haris also struck few boundaries and a six during the stand. Their partnership was of 89 runs before Haris was dismissed with an easy catch to mid-off fielder on Henry's bowling.

Score was 299/5, when Umar walked in but he was ran out on 0 by Guptil on the first delivery he faced. Sarfraz was the next man in, Afridi hit one four to bring up his 50 before he got out on McClenaghan's bowling for 55 when he tried to clear the extra cover fielder. Tanvir walked in next to join Sarfraz, the two put up an unbeaten 51 run stand where they scored many boundaries and sixes to take Pakistan's total to 364/7 in 50 overs.

New Zealand opened their batting with Guptill and Devcich who were facing Tanvir and Irfan. Tanvir started things off and bowled a tidy first over for 2 runs. Irfan bowled the second over and got Devcich's wicket with a short delivery which he tried to pulled but could only manage an inside edge which Sarfraz caught, he went for 0 and score was 5/1, when Williamson arrived at 3. The two looked to rotate the strike before Guptill pulled and top edged a short delivery of Irfan towards the cover fielder Afridi who took a smart low catch to dismiss him for 12, Taylor walked in next and score was 21/2.

Taylor looked in aggressive mood as he was playing with a strike rate of 100 despite the loss of 3 early wickets. He struck 3 sixes and a four before being bowled by Afridi who flattened Taylor's middle stump for the score of 31. New Zealand were 66/3 when Latham joined his Captain in the middle. They both formed a useful 49 run partnership, the best so far in Kiwi's inning, but an untimely dismissal of Captain Williamson left New Zealand in big trouble as he was caught and bowled by Harris for 46.

Score was 115 /4 when Anderson arrived. His stay was short one and consisted of three quick boundaries. An attempted pull shot did not connect well and went straight in mid-on fielder Afridi's hand. He was dismissed for 19 and team's score was 139/5 when Ronchi joined Latham, both could only add 19 runs to the team total as Latham was dismissed by part timer Shehzad when he swept him to backward square leg fielder Riaz Wahab. He went for 34 runs and Neesham was next as he quickly followed him when he was dismissed by Haris for 2 runs when he was caught at mid off by Riaz.

Score was 162/7 when Nathan McCullum joined Ronchi, 34 runs were added to the team's total by the two before Natham was dismissed on 15 by Younis khan who took a superb catch on Haris Sohail's bowling. Score was 196/8 when Henry walked in at 9 but he was quickly dismissed by Afridi who bowled him for only 1 run. Score was 200/9 when McClenaghan the last bastman for Kiwis walked in to joined Ronchi with 17 more runs added to the total before the final wicket fell for the kiwi's. Afridi bowled Ronchi for 41 to finish the game with a big margin for Pakistan. New Zealand were all out for 217.

An amazing turn around from the crisis that seemed to have shackled the Pakistan team. Shahid Afridi and Ahmed Shehzad's batting set the scene and once those runs were on the board, there was always going to be one winner. Pakistan now look to the final 2 ODIs in Abu Dhabi to stamp their authority on this ODI series and will have to show their doubters that this victory of 147 runs, like others in the past, is not just another flash in the pan.

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