NZ VS PAK ODI

Right then, that is it from the game. It was a close contest, but New Zealand won the series by 2-1. Fireworks are everywhere, as Kane Williamson picks up the trophy. Pakistan players have a bit of a rest now due to Pakistan Super League but New Zealand has an ODI series lined up against India on the 18th of January, Wednesday. It starts at 1.30 pm IST (8:00 am GMT). Do join us for the early build-up as well. Till then, take care and goodbye. Cheers!

Kane Williamson the skipper of New Zealand says that it was great to see Phillips play an incredible inning. Adds that there was a bit of an error in between but Glenn Phillips covered up for the team. Says that Glenn Phillips was playing his original game and he played an amazing knock and it feels great to win the game. Says that the surface was a bit competitive and good partnerships were all they needed. Ends by saying that they have had a fantastic time here and the support from the crowd was also amazing.

Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan is in for a chat. He says that they started really well and executed their plans really well. Although feels that they went on the back foot once Glenn Phillips came into the middle. Adds that he thinks the bowlers could not keep it tight in the end. Informs that he feels they were 20-30 runs short looking at the way Rizwan and Zaman were going on. Praises both the batters for their efforts in the end.

Devon Conway is the Player of the series. He says that the surface was quite batting-friendly and it helped him to score runs. Adds that it's a great feeling to win the series in Pakistan. Says that the skipper always kept on reminding him to play safe and score runs. Ends by thanking all the crowd and their supporters.

Glenn Phillips wins the Man of the Match award for his match-winning knock. He starts by saying he tried to play aggressively from the word go. Adds the intent was the key of his innings.

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Earlier in the match, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first. The decision seemed to be backfired when Pakistan lost two big wickets but Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan steadied the ship for them. Fakhar Zaman (101 off 122) celebrated his 8th ODI hundred but lost his wicket. After their dismissal, Agha Salman played a good cameo, scoring 45 off 43 deliveries. New Zealand used only five bowlers and Tim Southee was the pick of the bowlers with his spell of 10-0-56-3. Lockie Ferguson scalped a couple of wickets whilst Michael Bracewell and Ish Sodhi picked a wicket each. Mitchell Santner was wicketless.

Pakistan was good with the ball but they lost their way in the end, and couldn't get the breakthroughs. It looked like they had the game in their hand but Glenn Phillips' quickfire fifty made it go them on the back foot again. Agha Salman was the pick of the bowlers for them as he chipped two wickets and was very much economical. Mohammad Wasim bagged two whilst Usama Mir and Mohammad Nawaz have one in their kitty. There were chances of run out's which Pakistan missed. Had they gotten those wickets, the result could have been different. They did manage to get two late wickets of Santner and Sodhi, but it was too little, too late for them.

An exceptional team effort from the Kiwis and it was a special knock from Glenn Phillips at the end that has handed them a series win here. They started off well but lost Finn Allen opting for a risky single. Devon Conway and Williamson continued the good work with the bat and Conway was dismissed after his half-century. William followed the suit with another risky single after scoring his 42nd fifty in the ODI. After Williamson's dismissal, wickets kept on tumbling for them and there were 205-6. Glenn Phillips scored a quickfire fifty and got New Zealand back in the driver's seat with Santner assisting him from the nonstriker's end. They stitched a partnership of 64 runs at the end.

Here are the winning runs! Mohammad Hasnain goes full and on the pads. Glenn Phillips stays back and flicks it through mid-wicket and gets across for one run. NEW ZEALAND WIN THE GAME BY 2 WICKETS.

WIDE! This a length ball, way outside off. It goes past the tramline. Glenn Phillips tries to reach out but misses. Wide called. SCORES LEVEL NOW!

A dot to end the over! It is full and on off. Southee tries to flick it away but it lobs to the off side off the outer half.

Tim Southee walks in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ish Sodhi tries to score the winning runs but holes out instead. It is full, on the pads. Ish Sodhi flicks it aerially towards mid-wicket. Agha Salman leaps and takes a solid catch near his chest. Mohammad Wasim gets his second wicket.

LEG BYE! This is full, angled into the pads. Glenn Phillips ends up playing all around it. It goes to the off side off the pads. They take a leg bye.

It is full, on middle and leg. Glenn Phillips whips it through mid-wicket along the ground. They take two runs.

Length and on off, defended out watchfully.