Karachi, May 03: Pakistan cricket team registered its first One-Day International series win in 12 years against New Zealand after winning the third ODI in Karachi on Wednesday evening by 26 runs, thus taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the 5-match series.
Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq and skipper Babar Azam scored half-centuries to help Pakistan post a competitive 288-run total on the board. Agha Salman, Mohammad Rizwan and all-rounder Shadab Khan made useful contributions with the bat.
For New Zealand, fast bowler Matt Henry was the star performer, claiming three wickets while conceding 54 runs.
New Zealand batters failed to chase down the required target and eventually fell short by 26 runs. In bowling, three Pakistani pace bowlers Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah and Wasim Jr took six wickets between them, claiming two wickets each.
Imam-ul-Haq scored a 107-ball 90 while Babar Azam made a 62-ball 54 for his 26th ODI half-century to guide Pakistan to 287 for six in 50 overs.
Under Babar Azam’s captaincy, Pakistan won ODI series against South Africa in South Africa, against Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabawe, and the Netherlands in Netherlands.
Pakistan also qualified for the finals of the T20 world cup in Australia, semifinal of the world cup in the UAE, Asia Cup final and a tri-series (t20) in New Zealand.
