New Zealand completed a dominant 3-0 ODI series whitewash over Pakistan, cruising to a 43-run win in the final match at Mount Maunganui. Despite moments of resistance from the visitors, Pakistan never truly looked in contention to claim a consolation win.
Rain Delay Doesn’t Derail New Zealand’s Momentum
The match began with a nearly two-hour delay due to a wet outfield from overnight rain. Once play resumed, half-centuries from Michael Bracewell and young talent Rhys Mariu guided New Zealand to a competitive 264 in their allotted 42 overs.
Despite losing opener Nick Kelly early to Naseem Shah—who returned in place of the concussed Haris Rauf—New Zealand steadily built their innings. Mariu and Henry Nicholls added 78 runs for the second wicket, laying the foundation for the middle order.
While Mariu fell attempting a sweep against Sufiyan Muqeem, contributions from five of New Zealand’s top six, including a 61-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Tim Seifert, kept the innings steady.
Bracewell’s Blazing Finish Sets the Tone
Captain Michael Bracewell provided fireworks in the closing overs. After a cautious start, he exploded in the 34th over with a six off Mohammad Wasim, triggering a power-hitting spree. He smashed six sixes in total—five of them off Akif Javed—racing to 59 off just 40 balls before falling on the final delivery. Javed claimed four wickets, but Bracewell’s late surge gave the hosts crucial momentum.
Pakistan Falter in the Chase Despite Babar Azam’s Fifty
Pakistan’s chase began with a dramatic moment as opener Imam-ul-Haq was struck in the face by a throw that lodged into his helmet grill. He had to be stretchered off and was replaced by Usman Khan as a concussion substitute.
With Imam out, the pressure mounted. Openers Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam struggled to keep up with the required rate. While Shafique showed glimpses of elegance, his 33 off 56 balls lacked the necessary urgency. He eventually fell to Ben Sears, who once again proved to be Pakistan’s tormentor-in-chief.
Usman Khan’s innings was cut short by a spectacular diving catch from Bracewell, and soon after, Babar perished after completing a fighting half-century. Mohammad Rizwan tried to inject pace with a brisk 37 off 32, but Jacob Duffy’s clever variations denied him a substantial knock.
Ben Sears Seals the Series with Another Five-Wicket Haul
With Pakistan needing a rescue act, all eyes were on Faheem Ashraf, who had played a key role in the second ODI. However, he couldn’t replicate his heroics and fell to Bracewell. From there, the writing was on the wall.
Ben Sears, who had taken five wickets in the previous ODI, repeated the feat with another five-for, dismantling Pakistan’s lower order. He claimed three of the final four wickets, ending the match—and the series—in emphatic fashion. A brief power outage added a touch of drama, but Tayyab Tahir’s dismissal under the returning floodlights confirmed New Zealand’s clean sweep.
Key Takeaways:
- New Zealand won the ODI series 3-0, extending their dominance over Pakistan in the format.
- Michael Bracewell led from the front, contributing with both bat and in the field.
- Ben Sears took consecutive five-wicket hauls, emerging as the star of the series.
- Pakistan showed flashes of resistance but lacked consistency and composure.
What’s Next?
With the series wrapped up, New Zealand head into their next assignments with confidence and depth in both batting and bowling. For Pakistan, it’s back to the drawing board as they reflect on a series that exposed critical gaps in their ODI approach.