Ajmal’s best pegs back Kiwis

Nov 10, 2009

Abu Dhabi, Nov. 9: Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took a career-best 4/33 to help Pakistan dismiss New Zealand for 211 in 46.3 overs in the third and final day-night international here on Monday. The 32-year-old initially put brakes on New Zealand, who won the toss and batted, before triggering a middle-order collapse that saw seven wickets fall in the space of 47 runs.

Brendon McCullum stood out with an aggressive 78-ball 76 which included three sixes and six boundaries. New Zealand were well on course for a big score but once McCullum got out, caught and bowled by Shoaib Malik, Pakistani spinners led by Ajmal did not allow their rivals to prosper. New Zealand had raced to 72 by the 12th over, with McCullum hitting three sixes and six boundaries during his 47-ball half-century before the innings fell apart. Paceman Umar Gul provided the breakthrough, removing opener Aaron Redmond caught off Mohammad Aamir for 21.

Ajmal then came into his own, removing Martin Guptill (8), Ross Taylor (44), Daniel Vettori (15) and Jacob Oram (2) to improve on his best one-day figures of 2/16 against the West Indies in Johannesburg in September this year. — AFP

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