Second string NZ team beat Pakistan in warm up

Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq’s century went in vain even after Pakistan scored formidable 313 runs as second string New Zealand Board’s President XI thrashed Pakistani bowlers and achieved the target with six wickets in hand in 49.2 overs.

Pakistan batted first in their first warm up match in the wake of World Cup starting in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 and was reduced to 9 for 2 wickets in the third over after experienced players Mohammad Hafeez and Younis Khan losing their wickets cheaply for 2 and 1 respectively.

Hafeez ran himself out while wicketkeeper Tom Blundnell hauled a catch when Younis edged on a Kyle Jamieson delivery. Ahmed Shahzad and captain Misbah then put 34 runs before the former lost his wicket while being run out for 37 runs.

Misbah managed another 38 run partnership with Sohaib Maqsood, 15, before Todd Astle removed the latter. The captain then found good support from Umar Akmal who scored 68 off 59 balls to bring the score to 186 for 5.

Ed Nuttle broke the partnership hauling Akmal’s wicket. Misbah then added 47 runs with wicket keeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed who scored 19 before Logan van Beek removed him.

Van Beek also removed Shahid Afridi for a duck.

Misbah then put 34 runs with tail ender Wahab Riaz and lost his wicket after being caught off Shawn Hicks.

By then the team had accumulated 268 runs for 8 wickets in 46.4 overs. Wahab and Ehsan Adil then put whirlwind 36 runs off 13 balls before the former lost his wicket to Shawn Hicks. Wahab scored 30 off 21 balls.

Ehsan added nine more runs before losing his wicket to Jamieson as Pakistan scored 313 all out in 49.3 overs. He scored 21 off 9 balls.

New Zealand in response started well with openers Henry Nicholls and Michael Pollard put on board 93 runs. Pollard lost his wicket when Sohaib caught him off Ehsan’s bowling on 35.

Nicholls scored 104 runs before being run out but Seifert then put up a great show scoring 115 unbeaten off 89 balls with the help of 14 boundaries and three sixes to help his team reach the target in 49.2 overs.

Ehsan Adil took two wickets but was very expensive conceding 81 runs off 9.2 overs. Sohail Khan conceded 66 of 10 overs taking one wicket. Wahab Riaz went wicket less with 61 runs in ten overs.

Shahid Afridi also remained wicket less while conceding 42 in ten overs. Ahmed Shahzad conceded 43 in six overs while Younis also bowled four overs without any success conceding 17 runs.

Pakistan is in New Zealand for a two match series against the hosts. The matches will be played on January 31 and February 3.