[ad_1]
Fareed Khan/AP
Black Caps seamer Henry Shipley celebrates one of his three wickets in the fifth ODI against Pakistan.
The Black Caps have avoided a one-day international whitewash in Pakistan by winning the fifth and final match of the series by 48 runs.
Opener Will Young led the way by making 87 off 91 balls – his highest score of the series – while captain Tom Latham added 59 off 58 and Mark Chapman 43 off 33.
They were dismissed for 299 with three balls remaining after Latham won the toss and chose to bat, but that proved to be more than enough on a slowing pitch at Karachi National Stadium.
Seamer Henry Shipley took 3-34 as Pakistan had to settle for a 4-1 series with win, with Iftikhar Ahmed making an unbeaten 94 off 72 as his side were dismissed for 252.
Young lost opening partner Tom Blundell early for 15 off 22, while Henry Nicholls, promoted to No 3 with Daryl Mitchell rested, only managed 23 off 30.
Stands of 74 between Young and Latham and 56 between Latham and Chapman put the Black Caps in a solid position.
Cole McConchie made 26 off 25 and Rachin Ravindra 28 off 20 as they looked to finish strong, but constant wickets meant they couldn’t post a total above 300.
On the back of Shipley’s efforts, Pakistan slumped to 66-4 before Agha Salman and Iftikhar put on 97 off 95 for the fifth wicket to get the hosts back in the contest.
Salman fell after making a run-a-ball 57 with just over 15 overs to go and Shadab Khan came and went for 12 off 12.
With 10 overs to go, Pakistan were 205-6, needing 9.5 runs per over, and the asking rate took its toll as they lost their last four wickets in a hurry.
Ravindra finished with 3-65 from his 10 overs of left-arm spin, with a run out of Haris Rauf ending the match one ball into the 47th over.
The big moment
Latham’s one-handed grab to send Salman on his way in the 35th over. It halted Pakistan’s fifth-wicket stand at 97 and ensured they had to rebuild at a time when they would have been hoping to launch
Best with the bat
Young finished his run of five matches opening the batting by scoring 87 – one more than he managed in the series opener. Whether he’s passed his apparent audition to take on that role at the World Cup later this year remains to be seen.
Best with the ball
Shipley only took one wicket across his first two outings in this series, but finished with a flourish, taking 3-34 here.
The big picture
The Black Caps saved face on a tour that was also going to be tough, with half their first-choice XI away at the Indian Premier League. The next time they play an ODI, in England in September, the World Cup in India will be less than a month away.
[ad_2]