New Zealand beat Pakistan by 47 runs in the fifth and final ODI of the five-match series played at the National Stadium Karachi on Sunday.  

Middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed’s 94 run innings went in vain and the visitors succeeded in avoiding the whitewash by dismissing Pakistan for 252. Kiwis have set a 300-run target for Pakistan but Pakistan scored only 252 for all out in 46.1 overs. Iftikhar remained unlucky as he could make 94 runs with the help of two sixes and eights fours.  Kiwis bowlers Henry Shipley and Rachin Ravindra restricted Pakistan and took three wickets each. 

Pakistan could not get off to a good start as Shan Masood was dismissed for seven runs and skipper Babar Azam also failed to reach double figures and was dismissed for just 1 run.

Muhammad Rizwan also went back to pavilion after scoring just nine runs as Pakistan lost their third wicket for 52 runs.

The fourth wicket went down on 66 as opener Fakhar Zaman was dismissed by Ravindra after he had scored 33 runs.

Agha Salman and Iftikhar Ahmed had a 97 runs partnership for the fifth wicket as it looked like Pakistan were out of trouble, but then Salman Ali Agha got out on 57.

Wickets kept tumbling from the other end but Iftikhar Ahmed completed his half-century and stayed not out till the end for 94 runs.

The whole team was dismissed for 252 runs as Pakistan fell 47 runs short. Henry Shipley and Rachin Ravindra picked three wickets each for the visitors and played a key role in their win.

Earlier, Kiwis made 299 runs for all out in 49.3 overs with the help of Will Young and skipper Tom Latham, both made half-centuries in the match. Young slammed his career’s third ODI half-century and scored 87.  Tom Latham departed after scoring 53.

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets while Usama Mir and Shadab Khan both claimed two wickets each.  Pakistan now need to chase 300 to whitewash the Kiwis. 

 Earlier, Tom Latham has opted to bat first after winning the toss. Pakistan has a 4-0 lead in the five-match series and just secured the No. 1 ranking in ODIs. Babar Azam, playing his 100th ODI, was looking to seal a 5-0 result that would keep his side atop the ODI rankings they reached after winning on Friday. Pakistan made just one change to their side, with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris dropping out for an extra legspinner in Shadab Khan.

 On the other side, New Zealand will want to prevent a whitewash.

 New Zealand made four changes to the team with Adam Milne, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley and Henry Nicholls coming in. Daryl Mitchell, Blair Tickner, James Neesham and Ben Lister, who made his ODI debut last game, missed out.

 Squads 

 Pakistan: Shan Masood, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf

 New Zealand: Will Young, Tom Blundell (wk), Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham (c), Mark Chapman, Cole McConchie, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry