NEW DELHI: Can New Zealand avoid a 5-0 draw with world No.1 team Pakistan? New Zealand Pacer Matthew Henry hopes the Black Caps can avoid a sweep when the two teams face off in the fifth and final one-day international match in Karachi.
New Zealand landed in Pakistan without regular skipper Kane Williamson, who is likely to miss this year’s World Cup with a knee injury, while several frontline players are busy honoring franchise commitments in the Indian Premier League.
The team managed by Tom Latham managed to draw the previous T20 series 2-2, but Pakistan took an unassailable 4-0 lead in the one-day series.
In the fourth ODI on Friday, skipper Babar Azam crushed 107 to help Pakistan post a 334-6 at the National Stadium in Karachi.
In response, New Zealand were out for 232 runs in the 44th to succumb to a 102 run loss.
“It’s a shame we didn’t really have the success we wanted…” Henry told reporters after the defeat.
“Although it’s not good not to have won, we’ve definitely taken positives from this tour so far.
“We still have one game to play and hopefully we can put this performance together.”
The tourists are hoping the experience of playing nine limited-time matches in subcontinent conditions will serve them well at the ODI World Cup in India later this year.
Henry was quick to admit that Pakistan had dominated his home side.
“First and foremost we have been focused on this tour. We are coming here to Pakistan to challenge ourselves and compete as best we can,” said the 31-year-old who was the top neo bowler. Zealanders on this tour.
“Obviously it’s frustrating to be four down, but sometimes you have to congratulate the way Pakistan played cricket.
New Zealand landed in Pakistan without regular skipper Kane Williamson, who is likely to miss this year’s World Cup with a knee injury, while several frontline players are busy honoring franchise commitments in the Indian Premier League.
The team managed by Tom Latham managed to draw the previous T20 series 2-2, but Pakistan took an unassailable 4-0 lead in the one-day series.
In the fourth ODI on Friday, skipper Babar Azam crushed 107 to help Pakistan post a 334-6 at the National Stadium in Karachi.
In response, New Zealand were out for 232 runs in the 44th to succumb to a 102 run loss.
“It’s a shame we didn’t really have the success we wanted…” Henry told reporters after the defeat.
“Although it’s not good not to have won, we’ve definitely taken positives from this tour so far.
“We still have one game to play and hopefully we can put this performance together.”
The tourists are hoping the experience of playing nine limited-time matches in subcontinent conditions will serve them well at the ODI World Cup in India later this year.
Henry was quick to admit that Pakistan had dominated his home side.
“First and foremost we have been focused on this tour. We are coming here to Pakistan to challenge ourselves and compete as best we can,” said the 31-year-old who was the top neo bowler. Zealanders on this tour.
“Obviously it’s frustrating to be four down, but sometimes you have to congratulate the way Pakistan played cricket.
“They are obviously number one in the world at the moment and are playing under their local conditions.
“They really knew how to adapt to these conditions and put pressure on the key moments.”
(With contributions from Reuters)
