WELLINGTON: New Zealand beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the first one-day international (ODI) of the two-match series at Wellington on Saturday.
The New Zeal team captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first. But Pakistan could only manage to score 210 runs before they are bowled out for 45.3 overs.
The hard-hitting all-rounder Shahid Afridi made quick 67 runs off only 29 balls with three sixes and nine fours while the captain Misbah-ul Haq scored 58 runs.
In response, New Zealand reached their target in the 40th over for the loss of three wickets.
The middle-order batsman Grant Elliott and Ross Taylor scored unbeaten 64 and 59 runs respectively from New Zealand side.
The next and final ODI between the two sides will be played at Napier on February 3.
Pakistan first ODI squad
Muhammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Ehsan Adil and Muhammad Irfan.
New Zealand first ODI squad
Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (captain), Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne and Trent Boult.
