Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 1st ODI: Highlights, Scorecard and Report

A superb 110-run partnership between Haris Sohail and Shahid Afridi lifted Pakistan to what looked an unlikely three-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening ODI of the series.

New Zealand looked well set to defend a Ross Taylor-inspired total of 246 for 7 after ripping out the heart of the top order, but Sohail and Afridi steadied the ship and Pakistan got over the line in a tension-packed finish.

"

For the sake of the WC im glad this top order has flopped.. Shafiq and Hafeez (if he cant bowl) dont belong in the squad. #PAKvNZ #cricket

— Kumail Ally (@AllyKumail) December 8, 2014"

Taylor had not played an ODI since January, but he looked in excellent touch from the off and racked up his third successive century in this form of the game.

"

Ross Taylor's last three ODI innings: 112*, 100, and now 105* http://t.co/OL9gFBDvM3 #PAKvNZ

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 8, 2014"

While wickets fell around him, Taylor confidently stroked the ball around the ground. It was exactly the type of innings New Zealand needed, as Taylor turned what could have been a score well short of 200 to something competitive.

Taylor stroked nine fours and one six in his innings of 105, although he brought up his century in rather painful fashion after being struck by a rising ball from Wahab Riaz.

Had it not been for Taylor, it would have been a sorry tale as no other player passed 30—with Daniel Vettori the second top-scorer with 27.

The pace and bounce of Mohammad Irfan caused problems for the top order, with Dean Brownlie and Kane Williamson both failing to cope with balls from the giant seamer.

While pace had a role to play, the dry Dubai pitch allowed the spinners to extract sharp spin. Afridi and Sohail took just one wicket between them—but they only conceded 75 runs from their 20 overs.

Afridi and Sohail put a hold on New Zealand in the middle overs, but Luke Ronchi, Vettori and Nathan McCullum supported Taylor to help take New Zealand to 246 for 7.

Batsman	How out	Runs	Balls	Strike Rate
AP Devcich	c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Wahab Riaz	26	38	68.42
DG Brownlie	c Ahmed Shehzad b Mohammad Irfan	14	14	100.00
KS Williamson*	c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Irfan	10	19	52.63
LRPL Taylor	not out	105	135	77.77
TWM Latham	run out (Younis Khan/†Sarfraz Ahmed)	13	20	65.00
JDS Neesham	lbw b Shahid Afridi	1	8	12.50
L Ronchi†	c Younis Khan b Mohammad Irfan	23	27	85.18
DL Vettori	b Wahab Riaz	27	25	108.00
NL McCullum	not out	13	15	86.66
Extras	(b 1, lb 4, w 8, nb 1)	14
Total	for 7 wickets, 50 overs	246
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Umar Gul	9	0	49	0
Mohammad Irfan	10	1	57	3
Wahab Riaz	10	0	51	2
Haris Sohail	10	0	39	0
Shahid Afridi	10	1	36	1
Asad Shafiq	1	0	9	0

Pakistan's reply began poorly, as some tight bowling from Kyle Mills and Adam Milne kept the scoring in check. After scratching around for a few overs, Mohammad Hafeez played down the wrong line to a Mills delivery and was bowled off his pads.

Vettori is still one of the finest slow bowlers in world cricket, and he delivered the perfect arm ball that foxed Ahmed Shehzad and trapped the opener lbw.

The left-armer continued to whirl away, and in the 18th over, he claimed the prize scalp of Younis Khan.

The in-form batsman went for a sweep but failed to keep the ball down and Brownlie took the catch at deep backward square leg.

Vettori is not one of the greatest movers in the field, but he rolled back the years to take a brilliant catch to get rid of Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.

Misbah went to loft the ball over mid-on but did not middle it. It still looked like it would have enough momentum to clear Vettori, but the fielder backpeddled and took a brilliant one-handed catch.

"

OMG!!! Great catch by Vettori #PakVsNZ https://t.co/WjaAjpERNR

— Fawad Rehman (@fawadrehman) December 8, 2014"

New Zealand were well on top following the departure of Misbah, but Sohail and Afridi set about a brilliant rebuilding job.

After steadying a listing ship, the pair scored at a run a ball to keep Pakistan in the hunt. With four overs remaining, Pakistan required 32 runs and the game was firmly in the mix.

Afridi hit a six off Mills and four off Neesham to tip the balance in Pakistan's favour, but he was run out by a direct hit from Taylor with 13 still required for victory.

Riaz strode out to join Sohail at the crease, and the pair got Pakistan over the line with three balls remaining.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Balls	Strike Rate
Mohammad Hafeez	b Mills	6	17	35.29
Ahmed Shehzad	lbw b Vettori	28	41	68.29
Asad Shafiq	c Devcich b Neesham	5	17	29.41
Younis Khan	c Brownlie b Vettori	4	14	28.57
Haris Sohail	not out	85	109	77.98
Misbah-ul-Haq*	c Vettori b Neesham	13	23	56.52
Sarfraz Ahmed†	c Milne b McCullum	26	19	136.84
Shahid Afridi	run out	61	51	119.60
Wahab Riaz	not out	9	6	150.00
Extras	(lb 1, w 13)	13
Total	for 7 wickets, 49.3 overs	250
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
KD Mills	10	2	54	1
AF Milne	10	0	42	0
DL Vettori	10	0	40	2
JDS Neesham	9.3	0	62	2
NL McCullum	8	0	35	1
AP Devich	2	0	16	0

Pakistan's top order looks something of a concern, but with Afridi in the side, anything is possible. Both sides will see the remaining games as the ideal preparation for next year's World Cup.