Ahmed Shehzad’s blazing 115 helped Pakistan defeat New Zealand by 41 runs in the fifth ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton. The win ensured that Pakistan took the series 3-1 with still one more game to go.
Ross Taylor won the toss and decided to field first. Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez (14) early in the innings but Shehzad was unstoppable at the other end. He added 53 runs for the second wicket with Kamran Akmal, who struggled to score 17 runs from 33 balls.
The fact that Umar Akmal’s run-a-ball 32 was the next highest score speaks volumes of the importance of Shehzad’s innings. He also raised 47 runs with Younis Khan (21) and then added 77 runs with Misbah-ul-haq (25). He was finally caught by James Franklin off the bowling of Scott Styris for 115 runs that came from just 109 balls with 12 fours and three sixes.
Once Shehzad departed, Pakistan lost six wickets and scored just 71 runs in the remaining 13 overs. For New Zealand, Kyle Mills (2/42), Scott Styris (2/51) and Jacob Oram (2/49) chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Needing nothing less than a win to keep the series alive, the hosts lost Jesse Ryder (0) off the very first ball of the innings. Martin Guptill and Jamie How (12) then added 53 runs for the second wicket. Guptill was his usual attacking self, scoring 65 runs off just 70 balls that included nine fours. He added a further 59 runs for the third wicket with Ross Taylor.
Taylor played a responsible 91-ball innings to score 69 runs with four fours and a six, but New Zealand needed a much better effort than this. Except Taylor and Guptill none of the New Zealand batsmen reached the 20-run mark and New Zealand were finally all-out for 227 runs in the 47th over.
Wahab Riaz returned figures of 3/51 while Shahid Afridi (2/55) and Umar Gul (2/28) provided the required support from the other end. Ahmed Shehzad was declared the player of the match for his maiden ODI century. The last match of the series will be played at Auckland.