Misbah stars as Pak beat Kiwis by two wickets in fourth ODI to lead series 2-1
By ANITuesday, February 1, 2011
NAPIER - Pakistan’s Misbah Ul-Haq guided his team to a two-wicket victory over New Zealand in the fourth one-dayer on Tuesday.
The star of the New Zealand tour, Misbah cracked 93 not out to steer Pakistan home by two wickets with an over to spare in the fourth ODI, leaving New Zealand 2-1 down and needing to win in Hamilton and Auckland, Stuff.co.nz reports.
This was New Zealand’s thirteenth defeat from their past 14 ODIs as they vow to select their best line-up for Thursday’s match in Hamilton in a bid to reclaim momentum for the World Cup, which starts from February 19.
The hosts were defending 262-7, a sub-par total after they collapsed woefully to 79 for five on the best batting surface in the country.
Top-scorer James Franklin’s 62-run partnership with Brendon McCullum (37) and a stand of 64 runs with Nathan McCullum (53 not out) halted the slide and revived the innings after an awful first 25 overs.
New Zealand fought well in the field but they needed at least 30 more runs to play with. A brilliant one-handed catch by Ross Taylor off a Hamish Bennett edge got them rolling, and then a double strike by Scott Styris - both caught by Taylor at mid-wicket - saw the tourists slump to 84-3.
But the usual suspects took over as Misbah and Younis Khan added a composed 89. ounis was run out for 42 after he slipped over, but Misbah managed to keep pace with the required run rate, and Razzaq gave him full support before he was well caught by a hobbling Vettori at 23.
Man of the Match Misbah smashed 10 runs off two balls from Scott Styris and Sohail Tanvir hit three boundaries off Tim Southee the next over to see their side home. (ANI)
