Colin de Grandhomme was named Man of the Match for his unbeaten 74
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New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme walloped a 40-ball 74 to lead his side to a comfortable five-wicket win over Pakistan in the fourth ODI in Hamilton.
The Black Caps’ win was their 11th successive one in ODI cricket, which marked a new record for the country.
Choosing to bat first, Pakistan made a horrible start to their innings as opener Faheem Ashraf was caught behind off the bowling of Tim Southee for one run.
Southee struck again in his next over as he had Babar Azam caught behind for three runs.
However, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail stabilised the innings with an 86-run partnership, during which Zaman brought up his fifty.
Fakhar Zaman raises his bat after bringing up his fourth ODI fifty
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But, shortly after doing so, Zaman was clean bowled by Mitchell Santner for 54, which came off 75 balls and included seven boundaries and a six.
Sohail went on to score 50 off 74 deliveries, which included four boundaries and a six, before he was caught by Henry Nicholls off the bowling of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.
Haris Sohail scored his eighth ODI fifty
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Williamson then proceeded to take out Shoaib Malik, who was struck on the head by a throw from Colin Munro while batting, before Mohammad Hafeez and captain Sarfraz Ahmed halted New Zealand’s charge.
Hafeez and Sarfraz forged a 98-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their fifties, before Sarfraz was dismissed by Trent Boult for 51, which came off 46 balls and included three boundaries and three sixes.
Sarfraz Ahmed hit his eighth half-century in ODI cricket
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Despite Hasan Ali only making one run, Pakistan finished on 262/8 thanks to Hafeez’s knock of 81, which came off 80 deliveries and included five boundaries and four sixes.
Mohammad Hafeez struck his 34th half-century in ODI cricket
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Southee was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Williamson snapped up two. As for Boult and Santner, they chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 263 to win, New Zealand got off to a great start as Munro and Martin Guptill amassed an 88-run partnership, during which Munro raced to his fifty.
Colin Munro’s superb run of form continued
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However, he was unable to convert it into a bigger score as he was caught by Hafeez at deep backward square leg off the bowling of Shadab Khan for 56, which came off 42 balls and included eight boundaries and two sixes.
Guptill, Ross Taylor and wicketkeeper Tom Latham proceeded to fall in quick succession, but Williamson and Nicholls steadied the ship with a 55-run partnership.
Williamson ended up being removed by Sohail for 32, but that was to be Pakistan’s last taste of success for the remainder of the match as De Grandhomme took over and finished things off with Nicholls via an unbeaten 109-run stand.
Henry Nicholls made his fifth ODI fifty
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De Grandhomme concluded the match on 74 off 40 balls, which included seven boundaries and five sixes, while Nicholls remained undefeated on 52 off 70 deliveries, which included three boundaries.
Shadab was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Sohail and Rumman Raees claimed one wicket each.
Sarfraz was frustrated to have lost again, and said: “Very disappointing but a few positives. Fakhar batted well. But we’re not finishing well. The way we finished (with the bat), we had lots of confidence, but de Grandhomme played like a great batsman. It was a great innings.”
Williamson was pleased to have extended the series lead to 4-0, and said: “Pakistan played very well. They soaked up some pressure with the bat early on and posted a comfortable score. We did not put up the smartest of batting performances until Colin came out. To see him play like that was special.
“We didn’t think the surface took as much turn as we thought it would. A lot of credit goes to the top of the order as well. They got us off to a good start in the chase. And then Colin just came in and finished it off. We were under pressure for large parts of the batting innings, so feels nice to get across the line.”
De Grandhomme was named Man of the Match, and said: “I felt like I’d been hitting well in the nets. Crucial for Henry to be there till the end. Everything seemed to be coming off the middle.”