Afridi inspires Pakistan to crushing victory

“(Afridi) is a fantastic performer,” Pakistan captain Younus  Khan told reporters. “The last couple of years he worked well with the bowling but now his batting is there so it’s good for Pakistan,” he said.

Pakistan, who won the toss and opted to bat first, recovered  from an awful start to pile up 287 for nine.

Fast bowler Shane Bond dismissed opener Salman Butt and  Younus without a run on the board before Mohammad Yousuf, who  was dropped on 12, and Khalid Latif steadied the innings with a stand of 57.

Yousuf was run out for 30 but after Umar Akmal was dismissed  for nine, Latif (64) and Afridi added 101 for the fifth wicket. After Afridi departed Kamran Akmal chipped in with an unbeaten 67, including four sixes, to lead Pakistan to an imposing total.

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan innings
S. Butt c B. McCullum b Bond                        0
K. Latif b Vettori                                              64
Y. Khan c B McCullum b Bond                      0
M. Yousuf run out                                          30
U. Akmal b Vettori                                           9
S. Afridi c Butler b Oram                             70
K. Akmal not out                                             67
A. Razzaq c Styris b Butler                          26
U. Gul run out                                                     0
M. Aamer c B McCullum b Southee            0
S. Ajmal not out                                                 0
Extras (lb-8 w-11 nb-2)                                  21
Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs)           287
Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-0 3-57 4-75 5-176 6-184 7-270 8-271 9-277
Bowling: Bond 10-2-61-2 (w-3), Southee 10-2-54-1, Butler 7-0-54-1 (nb-2, w-2), Oram 10-0-47-1 (w-1), Vettori 10-1-34-2, N. McCullum 3-0-29-0

New Zealand innings
B. McCullum b Gul                               21
A. Redmond lbw b Ajmal                 52
M. Guptill b Gul                                       4
R. Taylor c K Akmal b Aamer           0
S. Styris c sub b Razzaq                        5
D. Vettori b Afridi                                38
J. Oram b Razzaq                                    9
N. McCullum lbw b Afridi                    0
I. Butler run out                                      4
S. Bond not out                                        4
T. Southee b Ajmal                                1
Extras (1b-8 w-2 nb-1) 11 Total (all out, 39.2 overs)         149
Fall of wickets 1-30 2-34 3-35 4-50 5-119 6-139 7-139 8-139 9-144
Bowling: Aamer 7-1-15-1, Gul 6-3-24-2 (nb-1), Razzaq 9-1-38-2, Afridi 10-0-46-2 (w-2), Ajmal 7.2-0-18-2