Pakistan thought that they had the game in hand until Glenn Phipps arrived and snatched the game away from to a memorable New Zealand victory on Friday.
The bulky right-hander took on the Pakistan bowling attack, smashing four maximums and the same number of boundaries as New Zealand chased 281 with 11 balls to spare at the National Bank Cricket Arena.
The cold night didn’t stopped spectators from coming out in huge numbers as the historic venue was almost full to its capacity with energetic a roaring fans who made loud cheers on very boundary or a wicket from both sides.
Phillips, who has developed himself as one of the key batters in New Zealand lineup in T20Is, came to the crease when they required 100 off 87 balls. He announced his arrival by smashing a boundary to Usama Mir and then depositing Agha Salam, Mohammad Nawaz and Haris Rauf into the stands respectively.
Babar tried to counter New Zealand by bringing pacers on once again. That bring Pakistan a short-term success in the shape of Tom Latham’s wicket. The left-hander was bowled by Mohammad Wasim Jr after scoring 16 off 22.
However, this doesn’t stopped Phillips from scoring runs. He first hit Wasim down the ground for four and in the next over he deposited Haris Rauf over the square leg for a massive six. The 26-year-old once again targeted Nawaz and smashed him out of the ground.
Kane Williamson’s side were 240/6, still needing 41 off the last eight overs. In the next over, Philips completed his maiden ODI half-century by taking a double. He finished the game by completing a single off Mohammad Hasnain as New Zealand scored 281/8 in 48.1 overs. Phillips remained unbeaten on 63 off 42 with Tim Southee (0) at the non-strikers end.
“I tried to play as aggressively as possible as batters were struggling,” said Phillips at the post match ceremony. “My aim was to get some quick runs as I was middling everything on the leg-side.”
In reply to Pakistan’s 281-run target, they went off to a decent start thanks to Fin Alenn and Devon Conway. The pair scored 43 before substitute fielder Tayyab Tahir removed Alenn, who scored run-a-ball 25 – with a brilliant fielding effort. The right-hander stuck four boundaries.
Conay and Kane Williamson made a wonderful 65-run stand for the third wicket. Conway stated the counter attack by smashing Nawaz down the ground for a maximum.
Williamson chipped in with a couple of boundaries to Nawaz and Usama Mir respectively. In the 21st over Salam Agha got the major breakthrough in the shape of Conway’s wicket. The right-hander scored 52 off 65 thanks to five fours and a six. At that stage New Zealand were 108/2 needing 173 runs from 29 overs.
Meanwhile, Williamson and Daryl Mitchell made a 52-run stand for the third wicket. The stuck a boundary and six in the partnership. Mitchell was sent packing by Agha Salam, who ended up with the figures off 2-42 from his 10 overs. He tried to reverse-sweep only to find Usama Mir at short third-man. He scored 31 (36).
Williamson, who was batting beautifully smashing two boundaries and two for his 53. The right-hander was run out by Wasim Jr as he tied to take a risky single. This was the fourth run out of the game.
Pakistan had the things under control after that, but Phillips show took the game away. For the Men in Green, Mohammad Wasim two wickets for 35 from his five overs.
Earlier, Fakhar Zaman showed up as he smashed his eight ODI ton to power Pakistan to 279 in the series decider against New Zealand on Friday.
Shan Masood, who was named interim vice-captain for the series, was finally picked in the side in place of injured Imam-ul-Haq. This was his first 50-over game since 2019.
His long-awaited return only lasted for two deliveries only as the left-hander was sent packing by Lockie Ferguson after a successful review. He walked backed without troubling the scorers.
Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman and captain Babar Azam got the things going for the home side. The left-hander started the proceedings by clipping Ferguson over wide mid-wicket for a boundary. In the next over, he top-edged Tim Southee’s quick delivery over the keeper’s head for the second boundary of his innings.
Babar Azam join the party when Kane Williamson introduced Mitchell Santer in the sixth over of the innings. Babar clipped Santer off the pads for his first boundary.
However, New Zealand bounced back with a back as Pakistan captain got stumped off Michael Bracewell’s delivery. He scored just four – a rare failure in ODIs. Interestingly, Babar was stumped on all three ODIs in this series. Pakistan were 21/2 in 6.3 overs.
At that stage, Fakhar and Mohammad Rizwan made a remarkable recovery. They made a 154-run stand for the third wicket to bring Pakistan back in the game.
Rizwan scored his first boundary through a paddle sweep off Santner. Fakhar showed signs of form in the ninth over when he found a deft touch against the leg-spinner for his third boundary before punching the spinner through the covers for another as Pakistan reached 37-2 by the end of the 10th over.
After six quiet overs, Fakhar welcomed pacer Tim Southee with a boundary. Two overs later, he hooked Southee past square leg for his sixth boundary as Pakistan’s run-rate creeped up to four.
The pair reached 50 off 65 deliveries in the 18th over of the innings. The opener brought up his second half-century of the series with a pull through midwicket off Ferguson as Pakistan reached 83-2.
Their partnership reached three figures off 111 balls in the 26th over. Fakhar then launched Santner for Pakistan’s first six to clear midwicket.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter completed his second half-century of the series off 53 deliveries. He scored three boundaries for his 50.
Rizwan-Fakhar brought up 150-run partnership in the 33rd over.
Finally, Ish Sodhi got the vital break though in the 34th over as Rizwan completely missed a goodly which disturbed his stumps. The right-hander scored 77 off 74 with the help of six boundaries.
Rizwan’s departure had got things slow for a while. Fakhar break deadlock by pulling a shorter ball by Bracewell for his 10th four before bringing up his 100 off 120 balls in the next over with a single off Sodhi.
His entertaining innings came to an end thanks to Glenn Phillips’ brilliant fielding effort. Fakhar added 101 off 122 balls with the help of 10 fours and a six.
Following that, Haris Rauf, who was looking good for his 22, got hit on the back off his helmet by Ferguson. His lack of concentration resulted in a run out.
Agha Salman once again proved his worth at number six. The lower-order batter first smashed Santer for a 98 meter six. Then an over later he smashed Bracewell straight down the ground for a boundary.
He finished off the proceedings with a couple of boundaries to Southee. The 29-year-old scored 45 off 43. Mohammad Hasnain finished Pakistan innings with a boundary as they scored 280/9 from their 50 overs.
Pakistan were forced to make two changes from their second match lineup as Imam-ul-Haq (hamstring injury) and Naseem Shah (fever) were out, making way for Shan Masood and Mohammad Hasnain.
Meanwhile, New Zealand are going in with the winning combination for the series decider.
Teams:
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Sohail, Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf
