HAMILTON – New Zealand wrapped up their Twenty20 cricket series against Pakistan with a match to spare when they blasted their way to a 39-run win in the second match here Tuesday.
Scott Styris and Peter McGlashan were the principal contributors to a 79-run onslaught in five overs which swung the match New Zealand’s way in the second half of their innings of 185 for seven.
Pakistan made a valiant start to the run chase and were 58 for one after six overs before their batting was robbed of its impetus by the twin-spin attack in the middle eight overs.
Man-of-the-match Nathan McCullum took four for 16 off his four overs while debutant Luke Woodcock took none for 20 and at the close of their innings Pakistan were 146 for nine.
It was a good recovery for New Zealand who lost the toss, were sent in to bat on an unfavourable wicket and immediately lost opener Jesse Ryder on the first ball of the match.
But from then, the New Zealand were in control with Martin Guptill and James Franklin starring in a 90-run stand for the second wicket.
“It was a good performance right from Guptill and Franklin’s opening stand,” said New Zealand captain Ross Taylor, adding his side has wants to keep the winning streak going after recent series losses against India and Bangladesh.
“We’ve had a few go against us in the recent past so we would like to go for the whitewash. We want to improve with every game.”
Guptill, who blazed 54 from 29 balls in the first match, compiled a brisk 44, including three sixes and three fours, from 28 deliveries while Franklin, newly promoted from six to three, made 44.
Both wickets fell in the space of five balls leaving Styris and then McGlashan to continue the initiative while skipper Ross Taylor anchored the other end.
Styris, who came in at the fall of Franklin’s wicket, clouted 34 off 14 balls and with his departure McGlashan combined a mixture of orthodox shots and reverse sweeps to belt 26 from 10 deliveries.
“With the way we bowled. I’m very disappointed,” Pakistan captain Afridi said. “We didn’t bowl well. We have very experienced bowlers and they didn’t bowl on the spot.”
Taylor was unbeaten on 30 at the end of the innings while Saeed Ajmal returned the best figures for Pakistan with three for 35 off his four overs.
Mohammed Hafeez and Shahid Afridi made a fiery start to Pakistan’s reply and raced to 24 off 11 balls before Kyle Mills was fortuitously rewarded for a rank full toss which Afridi missed and was bowled for seven.
Pakistan remained ahead of the required run rate through the first six overs before slowing in the face of the spin attack.
Woodcock, making his international debut was unlucky not to claim the wicket of Hafeez with his fourth ball when Ross Taylor dropped a sitter from the Pakistan opener.
It was a short-lived life for Hafeez who added two more runs before he was run out for 46 on the first ball of Woodcock’s second over and Pakistan’s mainstay batsman was gone.
Only Umar Akmal (26) and Ahmed Shehzad (15) offered resistance while for New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee backed up the spinners with two for 26 off his four overs.
The final Twenty20 match is in Christchurch on Thursday to be followed by two Tests and six one-dayers.
