Irfan Hanif
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Misbah-ul-Haq captain of Pakistan plays a shot during the first one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on January 31, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE
WELLINGTON: Pakistan's batting failed to put up a decent score and were all out for 210 in the first one-day international at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
All-rounder Shahid Afridi smashed a 21-ball fifty to keep Pakistan alive in the game after he was dismissed by Adam Milne for 67.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq also scored a half-century and established a crucial and quick 71-run stand with Afridi.
Misbah tood firm and stabilised the lineup after a dismal show of performance by the team's top order. He had managed to keep the scorecard running by maintaining important partnerships with Harish Sohail and Umar Akmal.
Pakistan were all-out at a score of 210 in 45.3 overs after Mohammad Hafeez (0), Ahmed Shehzad (15), Younis Khan (9), Haris Sohail (23), Umar Akmal (13), Sarfraz Ahmed (5), Misbah-ul-Haq (58) Bilawal Bhatti (0), Shahid Afridi (67) and Ehsan Adil (6) contributed their share of innings to the team.
New Zealand's Kyle Mills took two early wickets to leave Pakistan batting in tatters as the openers once again failed to provide a strong start. Left-arm medium-fast Corey Anderson also dismissed two batsman.
Left-arm fast-medium Trent Boult and right-arm medium Grant Elliott also took two wickets each, while Adam Milne managed to silent a fiery Afridi.
New Zealand had won the toss and opted to bowl in the first of two ODIs.
The series offers a final chance for both sides to fine-tune before the World Cup begins on February 14. New Zealand have made four changes to the side that completed a 4-2 series win over Sri Lanka on the same wicket two days ago.
Captain Brendon McCullum returns along with Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne and Trent Boult, replacing Kane Williamson, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan.
Pakistan have not played a one-dayer since series against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates, but captain Misbah-ul Haq felt they had acclimatised well in two warm-up games this week against a New Zealand XI.
The Pakistan side also includes all-rounder Haris Sohail who claimed he was woken by a ghost in his hotel room when the team were training in Christchurch last weekend.
