Lockie Ferguson all but bowled New Zealand A to victory against Pakistan A in this morning’s dramatic opening one-dayer in Abu Dhabi. Defending 222, the Auckland Aces pace-bowler kept the visitors hopes alive with a brilliant 10 overs where he snared figures of 4-28 and was on a hat-trick at one stage.
Pakistan’s chase looked in control at 121-2 at the halfway point, before they lost 6-61 and required a brilliant unbeaten century by wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan (105*) to get them home in the final over.
Rizwan, together with number 11 batsman Rahat Ali (3*), frustrated the New Zealanders with a defiant 41-run final-wicket stand to steal the match with three balls to spare.
Captain Corey Anderson (2-34) bowled the heart-breaking final over, after earlier combining with Todd Astle (51) for an 80-run partnership for the sixth-wicket to give the visitors something to bowl at.
Captain Corey Anderson (2-34) bowled the heart-breaking final over, after earlier combining with Todd Astle (51) for an 80-run partnership for the sixth-wicket to give the visitors something to bowl at.
Will Young (40) and Tom Blundell (31) also made contributions after Aamer Yamin (3-27) made the early inroads.
Logan van Beek (2-56) took the new ball for New Zealand A and impressed in his first match of the tour, while Astle (1-33) looked to have bowled his side to victory in the closing stages.
The teams meet again for game two on Wednesday evening NZT.