New Zealand 261 (Conway 101, Williamson 85, Nawaz 4-38, Naseem 3-58) beat Pakistan 182 (Babar 79, Sodhi 2-38, Southee 2-33) by 79 runs
New Zealand suffered a late collapse of 6 for 37 on a slow, grippy Karachi pitch, but the attacking enterprise of Devon Conway and Kane Williamson prior to that gave their spin-heavy attack a defendable total to work with. After Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson made the early incisions in Pakistan's chase of 262, New Zealand spin quartet muzzled the hosts with their subtle variations and forced the series into a decider on Friday.
Despite wickets falling around him, Babar Azam offered Pakistan hope with 79 off 114 balls, but could not find a higher gear to keep the asking rate in touch.
Mitchell Santner did his thing by relentlessly attacking the stumps and holding his length back. Michael Bracewell, who is more of a batting allrounder for his domestic side Wellington, was the most economical spinner, returning 1 for 29 in his ten overs.
Ish Sodhi, who returned to the side in place of Henry Shipley, bowled into the pitch and often drew mis-hits from Pakistan's batters. The legspinner bagged the prized scalp of Babar, the second-last Pakistan batter to be dismissed, and all but sealed New Zealand's series-levelling win. Glenn Phillips, who is now a reluctant wicketkeeper because of a back condition, added to New Zealand's spin stocks in an ODI World Cup year, trapping Haris Sohail lbw. The spinners had combined figures of 30-0-114-5.
Full report to follow…
