Published: Feb 03, 2015, 10:19 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 03, 2015, 10:34 AM (IST)
New Zealand have set Pakistan a target of to win the second One-Day International at Napier thanks to a brilliant 88-ball 122 by Kane Williamson. New Zealand got off to a bright start when skipper Brendon MCCullum took the initiative to go after the bowling. He was looking in the mood to get some boundaries but he was dismissed by Shahid Afridi in the eighth over.
Williamson then walked in at No.3 and got things going right from the very first delivery. He put on a 128-run stand with Martin Guptill (76), who got out after he failed to connect a low full toss and was caught in the deep. Pakistan would have hoped that the wicket would have reduced New Zealand’s momentum, by Ross Taylor and Williamson consolidated and laid a foundation from where his team can go on and get a huge score. After Williamson fell for a well deserved century, Taylor and Grant Elliot ensured that their team managed to go well past 300 and in the process register New Zealand’s highest ever score against Pakistan, beating the previous best of 311. Taylor got his century off the last ball of the innings off just 70 balls and in the process became New Zealand’s 100th century in ODI’s.
Mohammad Irfan was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan as he finished with figures of two for 52. Nobody other than him were economical. All the bowlers struggled to get any sort of rhythm in their bowling and they were unsuccessful in containing the New Zealand batsmen. Pakistan have their work out out and will have to play out of their skin to attain this huge total.
New Zealand lead the two-match series 1-0 after their seven-wicket win at Wellington. This is the last match either side will play before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Brief scores:
New Zealand: 396 for 5 (Kane Williamson 112, Ross Taylor 102*; Mohammad Irfan 2 for 52)
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