Explosive Anderson fires Black Caps to series win

Corey Anderson's explosive unbeaten 82 helped New Zealand complete a Twenty20 comeback against Pakistan as they won game three by 95 runs to take the series 2-1.

Published : Jan 22, 2016 15:23 IST , Wellington

Corey Anderson... superb show.
Corey Anderson... superb show.
lightbox-info

Corey Anderson... superb show.

Corey Anderson's explosive unbeaten 82 helped New Zealand complete a Twenty20 comeback against Pakistan as they won game three by 95 runs to take the series 2-1.

All-rounder Anderson rescued the hosts after they had reached the halfway stage 85-2, his 46-ball innings containing six fours and four sixes.

Anderson showed no mercy with his onslaught as he bludgeoned the ball to all corners of Wellington's Westpac Stadium to guide his side to 196-5.

In reply Pakistan floundered, losing their top three batsmen inside three overs and eventually being bowled out for just 101. Only Sarfraz Ahmed (41) and Shoaib Malik (14) got into double figures for the visitors.

> Full scoreboard and ball-by-ball details

Martin Guptill (42) and Kane Williamson (33) laid a solid foundation for New Zealand with an opening stand of 57, but the fall of three wickets in five overs brought Anderson to the crease.

He quickly went about recording his highest T20 score with his first half-century, hitting his sixth ball for four to get things underway.

Anderson's momentum continued to build as Shoaib (0-16) and then Shahid Afridi (1-27) were launched over the leg-side boundary in quick succession.

After Ross Taylor retired hurt with a side injury, Anderson was ably supported by Grant Elliott (19) until the latter stages, the pair enjoying an 80-run stand to put New Zealand on their way to a competitive total.

Pakistan's hopes of winning the match — and the series — looked bleak from very early on as Mohammed Hafeez (2), Ahmed Shehzad (8) and Mohammed Rizwan (4) were dismissed with only 14 runs on the board.

Shoaib (14) and Sarfraz (41) were the only Pakistan batsmen to show any resistance, as New Zealand closed in on victory with some tight and disciplined bowling.

Elliott (3-7) and Anderson (2-17) were again heavily involved as they showed their value, before Adam Milne (3-8) wrapped things up with the final two wickets.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment