NZ thrash listless Pakistan, take series

New Zealand thrashed Pakistan by 183 runs in the third one-day international in Dunedin today.

The overwhelming win gave New Zealand an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

New Zealand made 257 with Kane Williamson 73 and Ross Taylor 52.

Pakistan in reply were all out for 74 in the 28th over. Trent Boult took five for 17.

Pakistan might be the current Champions Trophy holders, but over the last two years, they have conceded the highest score in the format's history - 444 at Edgbaston. Today, in Dunedin, they came perilously close to posting the lowest ODI score; it was very much on the cards when they reeled at 32 for 8. In a batting performance so listless that even New Zealand appeared to be embarrassed by the ease with which Pakistan's innings crumbled.

Any semblance of a contest was blown to pieces by a sensational opening spell from Trent Boult, who made a mockery of the notion that it was a slow pitch on which bounce was difficult to extract. Azhar Ali was the first to fall. Granted a life two balls earlier, when Santner dropped one at cover, Azhar poked at one outside the off stump and gave first slip a straightforward grab.

Scores in Brief

New Zealand: 257 all out in 50 overs (Gmptill 45, Willimson 73, Taylor 35; Rumman 3-51, Hasan 3-59, Shadab 2-51)

Pakistan: 74 all out in 27.2 overs (Sarfraz 14 not out, Faheem 10, Amir 14 Rumman 16; Boult 5-17, Munro2-10, Ferguson 2-28)

Result: New Zealand won by 183 runs.

Player of the match: Trent Boult