New Zealand rout Pakistan 3-0 in ODI series: Key stats
What's the story
New Zealand beat Pakistan in the 3rd ODI to win the three-match series 3-0.
The Black Caps successfully defended 264/8 in a rain-curtailed fixture (42 overs) at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. Ben Sears's incredible fifer restricted the visitors to 221.
While Babar Azam slammed a fifty for Pakistan, Rhys Mariu and Michael Bracewell shone in the first innings.
Here are the key stats.
Match
How the match panned out
Being invited to bat, NZ suffered an early blow. However, Mariu, Henry Nicholls, and Daryl Mitchell took NZ past 100.
A 61-run stand between Daryl and Tim Seifert further bolstered NZ. Michael Bracewell's superb fifty eventually took NZ to 264/8.
Pakistan lacked consistent partnerships, with Abdullah Shafique, Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, and Tayyab Tahir getting starts. They perished for 221 in 40 overs.
Mariu
Mariu slams his maiden ODI fifty
NZ lost opener Nick Kelly early on. However, Mariu put on 78 runs with Henry Nicholls to get the Kiwis going.
He took NZ past 100 before getting dismissed by Sufiyan Muqeem. The former departed after scoring 58 off 61 balls. His clutch knock included 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Mariu brought up his maiden half-century in ODI cricket.
Bracewell
Bracewell leads NZ from the front
NZ were 164/4 when captain Bracewell came in. He finished the innings on a high, scoring 59 off just 40 balls. His tally included 1 four and 6 sixes.
His efforts in the last 19 overs were instrumental in boosting New Zealand's score by an impressive 99 runs.
Bracewell raced to his maiden half-century as captain in ODI cricket.
Daryl
Daryl Mitchell reaches this landmark
Daryl Mitchell scored a crucial 53-ball 43 for NZ. His effort included 3 fours and 1 six.
With his second run, Mitchell completed 2,000 runs in ODI cricket. He reached the milestone in his 47th ODI innings.
In 52nd ODI, the Kiwi batter has racked up 2,041 runs at an average of 48.59. His tally includes a strike-rate of 94.70.
Record
Fastest NZ batter to 2,000 ODI runs
According to ESPNcricinfo, Mitchell has become the fastest Kiwi batter to complete 2,000 runs in ODIs (47 innings). No other NZ batter has done so in less than 50 innings.
Mitchell broke the record of Andrew Jones, who completed 2,000 runs in 52 ODI innings (1991). Kane Williamson follows him, having reached the feat in 54 innings (2014).
Sears
First NZ player with successive ODI fifers
Sears starred in NZ's win with another five-wicket haul. He conceded just 34 runs in nine overs.
Abdullah Shafique, Salman Agha, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, and Sufiyan Muqeem were his victims.
Sears became the first player from New Zealand with consecutive five-wicket hauls in the format. He took 5/59 in NZ's 84-run win over Pakistan in the 2nd ODI.
Information
Four-fer for Akif Javed
Pakistan's 24-year-old pacer Akif Javed displayed an impressive bowling performance. He took four wickets for 62 runs in eight overs. The left-arm seamer earlier made his ODI debut in the series opener.
Babar
Babar fails to capitalize on his fifty
Babar Azam's fighting half-century could not take Pakistan to victory.
Despite Imam-ul-Haq retiring hurt early, Babar and Abdullah Shafique built a solid partnership. Mohammad Rizwan (37) and Tayyab Tahir (33) showed some resistance, but Pakistan faltered in the chase.
Daryl Mitchell managed to get Babar out post Pakistan's 100-run mark. The latter smashed a 58-ball 50 (4 fours and 1 six).
Century
Babar awaits his ODI ton
As per ESPNcricinfo, Babar's last ODI century came during the 2023 Asia Cup.
He has scored 882 runs from 26 ODI innings at an average of 38.34 ever since. His tally includes nine half-centuries and a strike-rate of 80.10.
In 131 matches, he has amassed 6,235 runs at an average of 55.17. The Pakistan batter owns 19 tons and 37 half-centuries.