NAPIER: New Zealand won the two-match series against Pakistan after they beat the visiting side by 119 runs in the second one-day international (ODI) at Napier on Tuesday.
While batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand set a target of 370 runs for Pakistan to level the series.
The right hand middle-order batsmen from New Zealand KS Williamson and Ross Taylor scored 112 and 102 runs respectively.
In response, Pakistan’s opening batsmen Muhammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad gave a good start and scored 111 runs in 20.3 overs till Ahmad Shahzad got out after scoring 55 runs off 62 balls with eight fours.
Later, all Pakistan team were bowled out for 250 runs in 43.1 overs. Muhammad Hafeez remained the top scorer with 86 runs.
New Zealand won by 119 runs. pic.twitter.com/Eutn4lDcOK
— PTV Sports Official (@PTVSp0rts) February 3, 2015
“It was a really tough series. We tried our best but we need to improve in every area. We just gave away 370 runs and we need to improve our bowling, especially at the death. If any batsman is set, then they need to continue till the end. It will be different in Australia but I think the pace and bounce will be the same so if we want to do really well we have to tackle that well,” Pakistan team captain Misbah-ul Haq said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
With the second successive victory, New Zealand completed a 2-0 whitewash in the series against Pakistan as earlier in first ODI played at Wellington on Saturday, the home side beat Pakistan by seven wickets.
It is a matter of serious concern for Pakistan as far as their performance and preparation for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is concerned that they have not been able to win even a single game of the last series before the mega event kicks off on February 14.
The Pakistan team even lost both of their warm-up matches prior to the beginning of New Zealand series.
The national team will fly to Australia on February 5 to play two World Cup warm-up matches on February 9 and 11 against Bangladesh and England respectively.
The 11th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is jointly being held in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29.
Pakistan will start their World Cup campaign with a highly charged match against arch-rivals and defending champions India in Adelaide on February 15.
