Trent Boult's hat trick earns New Zealand 47-run win against Pakistan

Trent Boult became the third New Zealand bowler to claim a one-day international hat-trick as his side defeated Pakistan by 47 runs in the first match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
New Zealand cricketer Trent Boult (L) celebrates after he dismissed Pakistan batsman Babar Azam during the first one day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. (Photo | AFP)
New Zealand cricketer Trent Boult (L) celebrates after he dismissed Pakistan batsman Babar Azam during the first one day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. (Photo | AFP)

ABU DHABI: Fast bowler Trent Boult became the third New Zealander to record a hat trick in a one-day international as the Kiwis beat Pakistan by 47 runs on Wednesday.

Boult (3-54) nailed Pakistan's top order with the wickets of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez off successive deliveries after New Zealand posted a decent 266-9.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed (64) and Imad Wasim (50) shared a century-stand and gave their team a chance before New Zealand bowled them out for 219 in 47.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Earlier, half-centuries from Ross Taylor (80) and Tom Latham (68) revived New Zealand after captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat.

Taylor and Latham shared a brilliant 130-run fourth-wicket stand before Pakistan hit back in the last 10 overs with its ace leg-spinner Shadab Khan (4-38) claiming three wickets in four balls and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi ending up with 4-46.

Shadab broke the century stand by having Latham and Henry Nicholls leg before wicket off consecutive balls and one ball later Colin de Grandhomme was caught in the slip.

Taylor, who hit five fours in his 112-ball knock, looked set for a century but played on to left-arm spinner Wasim before Ish Sodhi (24) and Tim Southee (20) played little cameos and lifted New Zealand's total in the last five overs.

Pakistan's top order batsmen did brilliantly in the Twenty20s but were jolted by Boult at the upfront. The left-arm seamer cramped Zaman and had the left-hander clean bowled in his second over and Azam was snapped by Taylor chest high in the first slip.

Hafeez, who scored prolifically in the Twenty20 series against New Zealand, was trapped leg before wicket as Boult completed the hat trick and nailed Pakistan to 3-8.

Danny Morrison and Shane Bond are the other New Zealand fast bowlers to perform hat tricks in ODIs, against India and Australia in 1994 and 2007, respectively.

Imam-ul-Haq (34) and Shoaib Malik (30) shared a 63-run stand but both fell in space of two runs and Shadab was unlucky to be give out caught behind of Ish Sodhi as the television replays suggested the ball was no way near to his bat.

Ahmed and Wasim then raised a 103-run stand which brought Pakistan back into the match before Ahmed played on to de Grandhomme's full pitched delivery. Wasim was caught by de Grandhomme soon after reaching his half century and Pakistan lost its last three wickets at the total of 219 with Lockie Ferguson finishing with 3-36.

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