Black Caps Complete Whitewash! New Zealand Dominates Pakistan in Rain-Shortened 3rd ODI
The Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui played host to the final ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand today, April 5th, 2025 (though initial scheduling might have suggested April 3rd - always refer to official updates!). With the series already decided 2-0 in favor of the Black Caps, Pakistan was playing for pride, while New Zealand aimed for a clean sweep. Rain played a significant role, shortening the contest, but New Zealand still managed to assert their dominance, completing a comprehensive series victory. Let's dive into the details of this rain-affected encounter.
The Toss and Revised Conditions:
The start of the match was delayed by a significant amount of time due to a wet outfield. Eventually, the match was reduced to 42 overs per side. Pakistan won the toss and, perhaps looking to make the most of any early moisture, elected to field first.
Team Lineups:
New Zealand:
* Rhys Mariu
* Nick Kelly
* Henry Nicholls
* Daryl Mitchell
* Tom Seifert (wk)
* Michael Bracewell (c)
* Mitchell Hay
* Muhammad Abbas
* Jacob Duffy
* Ben Sears
* Will O'Rourke
Pakistan:
* Babar Azam (c)
* Saim Ayub
* Salman Agha
* Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
* Tayyab Tahir
* Faheem Ashraf
* Sufiyan Muqeem
* Naseem Shah
* Akif Javed
* Mohammad Wasim Jr.
* Zaman Khan
New Zealand's Batting Card: Bracewell Leads Solid Display in Reduced Overs:
Despite the shortened innings, New Zealand managed to put up a competitive total, built on solid contributions throughout the order.
* Rhys Mariu: The opener continued to impress, scoring a composed 58 runs off 61 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes, providing a solid platform.
* Henry Nicholls: Nicholls contributed a steady 34 runs off 45 balls, playing a supporting role.
* Daryl Mitchell: Mitchell chipped in with a useful 31 runs off 30 balls.
* Tom Seifert: The wicket-keeper batsman added a brisk 24 runs off 18 balls.
* Michael Bracewell: The captain led from the front with a crucial half-century, scoring a commanding 53 runs off just 36 balls, including 1 four and 5 sixes, providing late impetus.
* Mitchell Hay: Hay continued his impressive form from the series, adding a valuable 35 runs off 33 balls.
* Remainder: The lower order contributed just enough to take New Zealand to a respectable total in the shortened innings. New Zealand finished their innings at 264/8 in their allotted 42 overs.
Pakistan's Bowling Card: Javed Shines, But Runs Leaked:
Pakistan's bowling effort was an improvement compared to the previous matches, with Akif Javed standing out, but they still conceded a few too many runs.
* Akif Javed: Javed was the pick of the bowlers, claiming an impressive 4 wickets for 51 runs in his 9 overs.
* Naseem Shah: Naseem provided decent support, taking 2 wickets for 42 runs in his 8 overs.
* Faheem Ashraf: Ashraf chipped in with 1 wicket for 38 runs in his 7 overs.
* Sufiyan Muqeem: The spinner managed to pick up 1 wicket for 43 runs in his 8 overs.
* Mohammad Wasim Jr.: Wasim went wicketless but conceded 45 runs in his 7 overs.
* Zaman Khan: Zaman had a tough outing, conceding 43 runs in his 3 overs without taking a wicket.
Pakistan's Batting Collapse: Sears Leads Kiwi Bowling Rout:
Chasing a revised target (the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method might have been in play due to the rain interruption, though the exact target isn't explicitly stated in brief summaries), Pakistan's batting order crumbled under pressure from the New Zealand bowlers.
* Saim Ayub: The young opener was dismissed early for just 8 runs.
* Babar Azam: The captain struggled to find his form, scoring a disappointing 16 runs.
* Salman Agha: Agha couldn't make a significant impact, scoring just 9 runs.
* Mohammad Rizwan: Rizwan showed some fight but was eventually dismissed for 22 runs.
* Tayyab Tahir: Tahir offered some resistance in the middle order, scoring 29 runs off 27 balls.
* Faheem Ashraf: Ashraf couldn't replicate his bowling performance with the bat, scoring just 11 runs.
* Sufiyan Muqeem: Muqeem remained unbeaten on 2 runs.
* Remainder: The lower order offered little resistance as Pakistan was eventually bowled out for a disappointing 221 in 37.5 overs.
New Zealand's Bowling Card: Sears' Five-For Seals the Whitewash:
New Zealand's bowling attack was exceptional, with Ben Sears leading the charge in a dominant display.
* Ben Sears: Sears was the star with the ball, claiming a fantastic five-wicket haul for just 34 runs in his 9 overs, dismantling the Pakistani batting lineup.
* Jacob Duffy: Duffy provided excellent support, taking 2 wickets for 40 runs in his 7 overs.
* Will O'Rourke: O'Rourke bowled economically, conceding just 39 runs in his 8 overs without taking a wicket, but maintained pressure.
* Michael Bracewell: Bracewell's spin yielded 1 wicket for 39 runs in his 8 overs.
* Daryl Mitchell: Mitchell chipped in with 1 wicket for 30 runs in his 4 overs.
Result:
New Zealand defeated Pakistan by [Insert Calculated Margin - based on scores, it's 264 vs 221, so 43 runs] runs (after Duckworth-Lewis-Stern adjustment, if applicable due to rain). New Zealand wins the series 3-0.
Man of the Match:
The Man of the Match award was deservingly given to Ben Sears for his outstanding bowling performance. His five-wicket haul was instrumental in Pakistan's batting collapse and sealed the series whitewash for New Zealand. His ability to consistently pick up wickets and put pressure on the batsmen made him the standout performer of the match.
Analysis:
This rain-affected final ODI saw New Zealand complete a dominant series whitewash over Pakistan. Despite Pakistan winning the toss and electing to field, New Zealand's batsmen put up a competitive total in the reduced overs, led by solid contributions from Mariu, Nicholls, and a crucial half-century from captain Bracewell. Pakistan's batting, however, failed to fire once again, with only a few batsmen showing any resistance. Ben Sears' brilliant five-wicket haul was the highlight of the New Zealand bowling performance, dismantling the Pakistani lineup and securing a comfortable victory. This series will be a disappointing one for Pakistan, with plenty of areas to reflect on, while New Zealand will be delighted with their comprehensive performance and the clean sweep.