END OF OVER:49 | 14 Runs | PAK: 264/8 | RR: 5.38
- Sohail Tanvir14 (6b)
- Misbah-ul-Haq93 (91b)
- Tim Southee10-0-70-0
- Scott Styris9-0-40-3
That winds up our coverage for this game, and I really enjoyed bringing you the action especially towards the end. On behalf of Abhishek Purohit and Sanjay Murari, this is Nitin Sundar signing off. Stay tuned for more on the site, and do join us for the fifth match on February 3. Cheers!
Who is that talking about cliques in the Pakistan team! Afridi is heaping praise on Misbah, and Misbah is returning the compliment. Between them, they have won Pakistan a couple of memorable games here and they will fancy their chance to close the series out in the next game. Sid Ravindran's final bulletin captures the twists and turns of this game. While you wait for that, do check out our Chrome extension and the ESPNcricinfo toolbar.
Apologies for my slip up - there are indeed two more games to play, but Pakistan will still look to close out the series in the next game.
Misbah is Man of the Match: "Things have worked well for me in recent times. The wicket was really good today, I enjoyed batting here. I enjoy playing with Younis, even during the Tests and other ODIs in the past. The teamwork is coming through - the skipper is doing very well, the team is gelling well. We have a good vibe leading to the World Cup."
Afridi: "Credit to the bowlers, keeping things quiet with the new ball on this great batting track. 265 is still not an easy total, but Shehzad started off well. The way Misbah and Younis took on the responsibility in the middle overs was crucial. Great knock from Misbah."
Vettori: "We were 40 short on a very good deck ... Lack of resources, lack of runs. We used up most of our bowlers by the end of the Powerplay, and asking Scottie Styris to come on in the end was a tough call. I am struggling with the hamstring, will take a look at it again and take a call. Nathan McCullum's form offers us a lot of options, and Franklin continued his fine form."
New Zealand's woes continue. They were inconsistent today - with bat, and with ball. They probably needed 30 more runs on this track, and better lengths from the seamers. Styris bowling the 48th over left them prone for damage in the end.
Southee comes on. New Zealand need to go for wickets here. Slip in place. Fielders everywhere. What a finish!
END OF OVER:48 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 250/8 (13 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.20, RRR: 6.50)
- Misbah-ul-Haq93 (91b)
- Sohail Tanvir0 (0b)
- Scott Styris9-0-40-3
- Hamish Bennett10-0-48-2
Paras: "Pakistani cricket is fascinating.. they can win a game from the jaws of defeat and also lose a game from the jaws of victory.. either ways, great stuff for a neutral observer!" Indeed!
13 off 13. NZ need two more wickets. Pakistan have Misbah on strike. Sohail Tanvir is the new man in.
Wahab Riaz c †BB McCullum b Styris 0 (7m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
24 off 18. Despite Razzaq's exit, Pakistan have their noses ahead. The Powerplay has ended. Both teams will heave a sigh of relief - it yielded 45 for 3.
Scott Styris comes back on. The lines and lengths have to be SPOT-ON from him, at his pace.
END OF OVER:47 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 239/7 (24 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.08, RRR: 8.00)
- Misbah-ul-Haq82 (87b)
- Wahab Riaz0 (0b)
- Hamish Bennett10-0-48-2
- Tim Southee9-0-56-0
Wahab Riaz is the new man in, but Misbah faces.
Abdul Razzaq c Vettori b Bennett 23 (25m 18b 1x4 1x6) SR: 127.77
One more over of the Powerplay to go. New Zealand's chances hinge on limiting the damage in this over. A good over here and Pakistan will coast home. 31 off 24. Bennett comes on.
END OF OVER:46 | 5 Runs | PAK: 232/6 (31 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 5.04, RRR: 7.75)
- Abdul Razzaq18 (14b)
- Misbah-ul-Haq80 (85b)
- Tim Southee9-0-56-0
- Hamish Bennett9-0-41-1
