Imam, Babar and bowlers help Pakistan wrap up series

Pakistan’s top three did their thing, and Pakistan’s bowlers did their thing. Imam ul-Haq’s 90 helped Pakistan to 287 in a stop-start innings, one that Matt Henry’s characteristic discipline always appeared to have on a leash. It meant Pakistan ended up with the lowest first-innings score of the series, one that New Zealand looked well on course to run down at the halfway mark of the chase. But New Zealand’s sloppiness – two run-outs at crucial times – as well as Pakistan applying the squeeze in the middle overs saw a game that should have been the visitors’, slip out of control. Cole McConchie was valiant on debut, and the last chance for his side to keep the series alive, but he ran out of partners, and New Zealand ran out of wickets to play with, with five balls and 26 runs to go.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 287 for 6 (Imam ul-Haq 90, Babar Azam 54, Matt Henry 3-54) beat New Zealand 261 (Tom Blundell 65, Cole McConchie 62*, Naseem Shah 2-41) by 26 runs