Boult-induced Pakistan collpase takes New Zealand to 3-0

New Zealand have defeated Pakistan by 183 runs in the third One-Day International in Dunedin and have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand were bowled out for 257 in their 50 overs, a total that proved out to be a gigantic one in the end, as Pakistan collapsed to 74 all out - their fourth-lowest One-Day International total.

Kane Williamson top-scored for the hosts with 73 runs off 101 balls while Ross Taylor finished with a well-paced 52 off 64. Martin Guptill also played a handy knock of 45 off 62 while Tom Latham paced a run-a-ball 35.

Hasan Ali and Rumman Raees picked up three wickets each while Shadab Khan picked up two wickets. New Zealand lost 7 for 62 in the last 10 overs and could only just cross 250 whereas at 195 for 3 at the end of 40 overs they looked set for a total in the proximity of 280.

But even that was too much for Pakistan, who could not recover from a top-order slide induced by Trent Boult, who dismissed Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez in his first two overs, to reduce Pakistan to 2 for 3 in 4 overs.

That score became 16 for 6 in the 15th over, and before they could come to terms with the situation, Pakistan found themselves 32 for 8 in the 19th over. A 20-run partnership between captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir took the score past the lowest-ever One-Day International total of 35, which Pakistan risked changing, and then past 43, which is Pakistan's lowest team total in One-Day International cricket.

After Amir's wicket in the 24th over, Rumman Raees shared a 22-run stand with Sarfraz, but the game was already lost by then. Eventually, Pakistan were bowled out for 74 in 27.2 overs.

Boult was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, accounting for five Pakistani wickets while giving away only 17 runs in 7.2 overs. Colin Munro and Lockie Ferguson picked up two wickets each. Raees was the top run-scorer for Pakistan with 16 as only four batsmen could reach double-digit scores. Sarfraz finished unbeaten on 14.

Trent Boult was adjudged the Man of the Match for his five-wicket haul.