New Zealand v Pakistan, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the first ODI, New Zealand v Pakistan, 2015-16
15-Apr-2017
At Wellington (Basin Reserve), January 25, 2016. New Zealand won by 70 runs. Toss: Pakistan.
A New Zealand victory looked unlikely when they dipped to 99 for six in the 23rd over in the face of some fine pace bowling - but they were hauled to a respectable total by the 24-year-old Canterbury left-hander Henry Nicholls, who made his first international half-century in his sixth match, following the injury to Ross Taylor. Dropped by Mohammad Hafeez at slip off Anwar Ali when 15, Nicholls put on 79 with Santner, before Henry - who clouted four sixes - supervised a ninth-wicket stand of 73 which ended only when McClenaghan was struck a sickening blow by Anwar. He missed a pull, and the ball crashed through his helmet grille to fracture his left eye socket. Anwar claimed three wickets, as did Mohammad Amir, who was forced to leave the field not long after stopping a Santner drive with his left shin. Pakistan motored to 111 for two at halfway, against an attack lacking McClenaghan, but shortly afterwards Williamson flummoxed Hafeez, and the middle order found Boult and Elliott hard to get away. Sarfraz Ahmed briefly threatened a recovery, but the last three wickets could add only five runs. This was the first one-day international at Wellington's Basin Reserve for almost 11 years; recent matches had been played at the nearby Westpac Stadium.
Man of the Match: H. M. Nicholls.
A New Zealand victory looked unlikely when they dipped to 99 for six in the 23rd over in the face of some fine pace bowling - but they were hauled to a respectable total by the 24-year-old Canterbury left-hander Henry Nicholls, who made his first international half-century in his sixth match, following the injury to Ross Taylor. Dropped by Mohammad Hafeez at slip off Anwar Ali when 15, Nicholls put on 79 with Santner, before Henry - who clouted four sixes - supervised a ninth-wicket stand of 73 which ended only when McClenaghan was struck a sickening blow by Anwar. He missed a pull, and the ball crashed through his helmet grille to fracture his left eye socket. Anwar claimed three wickets, as did Mohammad Amir, who was forced to leave the field not long after stopping a Santner drive with his left shin. Pakistan motored to 111 for two at halfway, against an attack lacking McClenaghan, but shortly afterwards Williamson flummoxed Hafeez, and the middle order found Boult and Elliott hard to get away. Sarfraz Ahmed briefly threatened a recovery, but the last three wickets could add only five runs. This was the first one-day international at Wellington's Basin Reserve for almost 11 years; recent matches had been played at the nearby Westpac Stadium.
Man of the Match: H. M. Nicholls.