Pakistan in New Zealand, 3 ODI Series, 2025 |3rd ODI |4/5/2025 Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Commentary
Right then, that is it from this game and the series as well. New Zealand finished on a high and with a 3-0 scoreline over Pakistan. Now, both the teams have a nice little break from international cricket. However, a few players from both sides will join their respective PSL teams that will be starting on 11th April, and you can catch all the action of that tournament as well. We hope that you have enjoyed our coverage throughout this tour. Until next time, cheers and goodbye!
Michael Bracewell, the victorious captain of New Zealand, is up again for a quick chat. He says that they have added new guys to the team, and it has been pleasing to see them perform here. Adds that the series win is a bonus on that, and he is pretty happy. Mentions that as Black Caps, they have a style on how they want to play, and they want to continue with that. Tells that there are so many little things that they have won throughout the series. States that it is pretty same to the 2023 series and the bowlers are fast and aggressive, which is so heart-warming to watch, and Duffy has led them well. Further adds that the credit is to all the players who stood up in different situations, and they have always found a way to get out whenever the situation became tough.
Mohammad Rizwan, the captain for Pakistan, says that they were better than the first two games but still need to improve a lot. Adds that Babar Azam got a fifty and Sufiayan Muqeem also bowled well, and it was a good fight. Credits New Zealand for their performance and says that they were fantastic when they went to Pakistan as well, and the professionalism is superb from them. Says that they need to work on a few things, especially on their batting in these conditions. Tells that they will now put the past behind them and look forward to the PSL, which is like a festival for the fans in Pakistan, and hopefully, they can enjoy that tournament.
Ben Sears is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his 10 wickets in two games. He says he is grateful to have gotten the opportunity and is happy to have performed well. Adds that the experience was great around such talented boys, and it was special to come in as the first change following some great bowling by the rest of the bowlers. Mentions the plan was just to try and build pressure in the middle, and he is just happy to have contributed.
Michael Bracewell is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant half-century. He says that it was an incredible day, and he is happy that his team put in a good performance. Adds that the wicket stood out very well as the rain was here for the last couple of days, but the credit goes to the groundsmen for how they have prepared it. Mentions that they have a limited set of resources and that all the players played incredibly well as per their capabilities. States that it wasn’t an easy surface to bat on, and they were pretty happy with that score at the halfway point of the inning. Tells that he is pretty happy with the all-around effort of the team.
Presentation Time...
New Zealand will be pleased with their bowling performance. While they didn’t strike early with the new ball, they bounced back impressively during the middle overs. The pacers were right on the money once again, with Ben Sears leading the charge brilliantly and delivering key breakthroughs. The decision to bring on Daryl Mitchell proved spot-on, as he claimed the crucial wicket of Babar Azam. Michael Bracewell and Muhammad Abbas also chipped in with a wicket each. Fittingly, it was Sears who sealed the deal, finishing with yet another outstanding five-wicket haul - becoming the first New Zealander to claim back-to-back fifers in ODIs.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand put up a strong total in this rain-shortened encounter. Michael Bracewell led by example with a commanding half-century, while Rhys Mariu set the platform early on with his maiden ODI fifty. The middle order chipped in with handy contributions to keep the scoreboard ticking. For Pakistan, Akif Javed stood out with an impressive four-wicket haul, while Naseem Shah claimed a couple, and both Faheem Ashraf and Sufiyan Muqeem picked up one apiece. Although it was a better bowling effort compared to the first two games, they still leaked a few too many runs at the death.
Despite losing Imam early to injury, Pakistan made a steady start, thanks to Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam. However, Shafique couldn’t capitalise on his start, and Babar’s dismissal soon after reaching his half-century proved to be the turning point. While the visitors looked comfortable with Babar at the crease, his departure triggered a collapse. Runs dried up, and wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. Mohammad Rizwan and Tayyab Tahir offered brief resistance with a couple of handy knocks, but it was never going to be enough to chase down the target without support from the others.
NEW ZEALAND COMPLETE SERIES WHITEWASH OVER PAKISTAN! A dominant all-round performance once again from the hosts, who have outclassed Pakistan throughout the series - and that too without several key players in their ranks. For the Men in Green, it's been a tour full of missed opportunities. They had their moments but failed to build on them, managing to win just one T20I across a tour that included five T20Is and three ODIs. A disappointing return and plenty to reflect on for the visitors.
39.6
W
Ben Sears to Sufiyan Muqeem, OUT! CAUGHT! Game, set and match! Ben Sears finishes with a five-fer and New Zealand win the game by 43 runs to clean sweep the ODI series 3-0! Sears smartly takes pace off this time and follows the batter making room, on a length, Sufiyan Muqeem is cramped up a bit and whips it off the upper half of the bat in an attempt to get it over the infield on the off side, but ends up hitting it straight to mid off. Muhammad Abbas moves to his left and takes a fine catch.
39.5
0
Ben Sears to Sufiyan Muqeem, Short of a length, on off, Sufiyan Muqeem looks to hoick across but misses.
39.4
0
Ben Sears to Sufiyan Muqeem, Short again, on leg, Sufiyan Muqeem looks to pull and gets a top edge that falls short of the keeper.
39.3
1
Ben Sears to Akif Javed, In the air, but falls safe. Seems like Tim Seifert lost it in the night sky. Back of a length, on middle, Akif Javed pulls it off the outer half of the bat to the left of deep square leg. Tim makes all the ground but the ball just drops down to his left. The batters take one.
39.2
0
Ben Sears to Akif Javed, Good length, angling in, on leg, Akif Javed has a wild swing but misses. The ball zips past the leg stump.
39.1
1
Ben Sears to Sufiyan Muqeem, Slower bouncer, on middle and leg, Sufiyan Muqeem pulls it to fine leg for a single.
END OF OVER 39 | 5 Runs & 1 Wkt | PAK 219/9
38.6
1
Jacob Duffy to Sufiyan Muqeem, Fuller than a length, on middle, Sufiyan Muqeem makes room and drags it across to mid-wicket for one.
38.5
0
Jacob Duffy to Sufiyan Muqeem, Goes short and on off, Sufiyan Muqeem looks to ramp but misses.
Sufiyan Muqeem is the last man in.
38.4
W
Jacob Duffy to Tayyab Tahir, OUT! TAKEN! That should be the game for New Zealand! The break in play brings New Zealand the last big fish in Tayyab Tahir. Jacob Duffy bangs the surface short of a length and outside off, Tayyab Tahir gets on top of his toes and slices it straight to deep point. Tim Seifert takes a few steps to his left and gobbles up a simple catch around his chest height.
Oh... No! What has happened? The lights have gone all over the ground. Duffy was about to bowl as he has taken his follow-through, and as soon as he released the ball, the lights were gone all of a sudden. Though he has delivered the ball, but the batter, Tayyab Tahir, has backed away. Now, it is fine to continue.
38.3
0
Jacob Duffy to Tayyab Tahir, Full, on off, Tayyab Tahir drills his drive but stright to cover.
38.2
4
Jacob Duffy to Tayyab Tahir, FOUR! Top shot. Tayyab Tahir is keeping the game alive for Pakistan! Short of a good length and well outside off, Tayyab Tahir has to reach for it, and he does. Cuts it over point for a boundary.
Halt. Tayyab Tahir has asked something to the leg umpire, and the play is interrupted for now. Probably, there aren't enough fielders in the 30-yard circle. Now, we are good to continue.