Clinical NZ brush Pakistan aside to lift tri-series title

Clinical NZ brush Pakistan aside to lift tri-series title

An all-round performance from New Zealand took them to a comfortable five-wicket win over Pakistan in the tri-series final.

• Pakistan's decision to bat first was surprising, but New Zealand's bowlers put on a disciplined show to restrict them to 242.
• Will O'Rourke, Mitchell Santner, and Michael Bracewell took 4, 2, and 2 wickets respectively.
• New Zealand chased down the total with a collective effort, led by fifties from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham.

Pakistan struggled for momentum on a dry, two-paced Karachi surface.

• O'Rourke set the tone early with a fiery new-ball spell, taking the wicket of Fakhar Zaman.
• Babar Azam (6000 ODI runs) and Mohammad Rizwan tried to steady the ship, but both perished in search of big shots.
• The Pakistan innings fell apart towards the end, but New Zealand were sloppy in the field in the last few overs.

New Zealand's chase was tricky due to sharp movement from Pakistan's new-ball duo.

• Naseem Shah took the wicket of Will Young with a delivery that darted back off the seam.
• Devon Conway and Kane Williamson put on a 71-run stand for the second wicket, but both were dismissed by Salman.
• Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham combined for a match-defining partnership of 87.

Scorecard:

Pakistan: 242 all out in 49.3 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 46; Will ORourke 4-43, Mitchell Santner 2-20, Michael Bracewell 2-38)

New Zealand: 243-5 in 45.2 overs (Daryl Mitchell 57, Tom Latham 56; Naseem Shah 2-43)