Misbah guides Pakistan to tight win over NZ

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Misbah-ul-haq overcame the  loss of late wickets to keep his cool and guide Pakistan to a  two-wicket victory over New Zealand in their fourth one-day  international match in Napier today.
Misbah, who has anchored Pakistan’s batting throughout the  tour of New Zealand, proved once again a thorn in the side of  Daniel Vettori’s team, scoring 93 not out as Pakistan finished  on 264 for eight in 49 overs having chased down the host’s 262  for seven.
The Pakistan test captain, who had been coasting to the  victory target while batting with Younus Khan (42), was forced  to take all the responsibility of getting his side home when  Younus was run out in the 38th over.
Umar Akmal then scratched around for 10 off 17 balls before  he was well caught in the 43rd over by Nathan McCullum off  Vettori, who trapped Shahid Afridi in front two balls later to  give New Zealand a faint hope of running through the bowlers to  win the match and take a 2-1 lead in the best of six series.
Misbah, however, and Abdul Razzaq (23) managed to keep pace  with the required run rate and while Razzaq was well caught by a  hobbling Vettori, Misbah smashed 10 runs off two balls from  Scott Styris and Sohail Tanvir (14) hit three boundaries off Tim  Southee the next over to see their side home.
Late call-up James Franklin had proved the saviour of New  Zealand’s innings, which was about 30 runs short of a par total  on a good batting wicket with short square boundaries.
Franklin was only brought into the side after Jesse Ryder,  who injured a finger while playing for Wellington at the  weekend, withdrew before play began.
The left-hander, who had scores of 72 not out, 98 not out  and 17 not out in his previous three innings in India last  December, top-scored with 62 to help arrest New Zealand’s  mid-innings slump.
The hosts had romped to 40 without loss but lost three  wickets for four runs and then slumped to 79 for five before  Franklin’s 62-run partnership with Brendon McCullum (37) and a  stand of 64 runs with Nathan McCullum (53 not out) halted the  slide.