Pakistan were well set to claim a 2-1 series win over New Zealand in Dubai before rain forced the players from the field, with the match abandoned and the series drawn 1-1.
Pakistan scored a challenging 279-8 off their 50 overs, with Babar Azam once again in the thick of things with the bat, scoring 92 off 100 balls (four fours, one six).
Fakhar Zaman (65 off 77 balls, eight fours) and Haris Sohail (60 off 59 balls, six fours, two sixes) were also among the runs.
Lockie Ferguson was sensational with the ball, taking 5-45 to follow up his returns of 3-36 and 3-60 in the previous two ODIs in the series to take the Player of the Match honours.
‘Pace is my strength and I’m not a huge swinger. On these wickets, with variable bounce hitting a hard length is tougher. Cross-seamers sometimes kiss through and it’s all about confidence. Exciting to take a five-for in ODIs. I am just working game-by-game and it’s nice to have a successful fast-bowling group,’ said Ferguson.
New Zealand could only face 6.5 overs before rain chased them from the field with their score on 35-1, Colin Munro having been bowled for a second-ball duck by Shaheen Afridi, who took 1-18 off his 3.5 overs in New Zealand’s curtailed innings. Afridi captured the Player of the Series honours after figures of 4-46 and 4-38 in the previous two ODIs.
Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images
