Guptill, Henry lead New Zealand to series sweep

Pakistan’s top-order batting stuttered and stumbled again and a good performance from the bowlers – with ball and bat – went in vain as the home side ran out 15-run victors in the fifth and final One-Day International at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Friday. The result gave Kane Williamson’s men a 5-0 series sweep.

After winning the toss and batting first, New Zealand had Martin Guptill’s 13th ODI century to thank for taking them to a decent score, and then it was over to the bowlers, led by Matt Henry, to stop Pakistan at 256, the chase getting as close to the target as it did because of a good middle-order partnership and some enterprising batting by the tailenders.

Pakistan arrived in New Zealand high on hope, on a nine-match winning streak, which included their ICC Champions Trophy triumph and a 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka at ‘home’ in the United Arab Emirates. Since arriving in New Zealand, though, it’s been one poor show after the other as they lost by 61 runs, eight wickets, 183 runs and five wickets before the latest reversal.

The two teams next play a series of three Twenty20 Internationals, with the first game slotted for Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on 22 January.