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December 31, 2010

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Pakistan crushes Kiwis by 103 runs

ABDUL Razzaq smashed 34 from 11 balls before taking three wickets to lead Pakistan to a 103-run win over New Zealand in a Twenty20 international in Christchurch yesterday, the largest ever victory in a match played between two test-playing nations.

New Zealand still won the three-match series 2-1, but only Kenya, Scotland and Canada have been beaten by larger margins in cricket's shortest format.

After Pakistan had totaled 183-6, New Zealand lost its first four batsmen for ducks to slump to 3-4 as Razzaq crashed through its top order. At 11-5 after 4.4 overs, New Zealand had the lowest score for the loss of five wickets by any team in the history of Twenty20 internationals and was headed for a record low score.

Scott Styris revived the innings slightly with a top score of 45 and was New Zealand's only batsman to reach double figures.

Razzaq finished with 3-13 while Shahid Afridi claimed 4-14.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad made 54 and shared an 81-run opening partnership with Mohammad Hafeez (34) in 8.4 overs to lay the foundation for Pakistan.

Shehzad set the tone for Pakistan's best batting performance of the series, bringing up his team's 50 from 4.5 overs. He dashed to his own half-century from 32 balls before he was out two deliveries later after having 10 fours.

Pakistan faltered briefly when he and Hafeez were out in quick succession, and as Asad Shafiq fell for 8 and Younis Khan for 5.

Umar Akmal restored momentum with an innings of 30 and Razzaq, the man of the match, guaranteed a competitive total when he smashed three fours and three sixes.

Razzaq then destroyed the New Zealand innings, dismissing Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor for ducks and James Franklin for 3 to claim three wickets for three runs.

Tanvir Ahmed removed Jesse Ryder, also for a duck, as New Zealand went from 1-1 to 2-2, 2-3, 3-4 and finally 11-5.

Styris steered his team away from complete disaster but had little support. Peter McGlashan was out for 7, Nathan McCullum for 8 and Kyle Mills for 8 as Afridi stripped the lower order.

Afridi produced a superb short spell of spin bowling, varying his pace, turn and flight, to remove Styris and McCullum, then Mills and Tim Southee with successive balls. He will now return home as his team prepares for the first of two tests against New Zealand, starting on January 7 in Hamilton.



 

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