The encounter at the small and immensely beautiful city of Dunedin, being the decider of the one-day series between Pakistan and New Zealand, where Pakistan performed to its full potential piling up a challenging total of 285 runs. It was the highest total of the present series after New Zealand's 284 in the 4th ODI at Christchurch, last Sunday. The curator at the ground having produced a strip suitable for batting, the Black Caps were no minnows to be intimidated by the huge total.

The Pakistan bowlers not able to extract much out of the pitch were punished heavily. Though they were able to drag the match to the 48th over, the foundation laid by the opening pair of the Black Caps was sufficiently strong to provide New Zealand, a thunderous victory. The atrocious fielding by Pakistan made their job easier.

Batting first Pakistan was able to pile up an impressive total of 285 runs. Though the star opener Saeed Anwar departed after scoring only 12 runs, pinch hitter Shahid Afridi took the mantle of building up the innings. He played a highly enterprising innings of 65 runs scored in 55 balls with the help of 11 fours and a six. While Afridi was on a run-making spree, Abdur Razzaq (41) gave him a commendable stand.

The batsmen that followed contributed a reasonable share to the total. Yousuf Youhana played a dashing innings of 68 in 73 balls, while young Imran Farhat (33) and Moin Khan (36) were the other major scorers. But for the countless unpardonable fielding lapses, the total of 285 runs was sufficient for Pakistan to win the match and the one-day series.

The way Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle opened the innings and thrashed the Pakistan bowling all over the ground left no doubts about their intentions to grab the victory. The stream of fours going past the fielders too often in the game was an awe-inspiring exhibition of masterly stroke play on one side and a disappointing display of fielding on the other. Similarly, the frequency of catches being dropped down the palm of hands made the fielders look like pigmies. The dropping of catches apart, the poor ground fielding helped the scoreboard to move at jet speed bringing on 100 of the innings in 17 overs.

The pair was in full command of the situation while the Pakistan bowlers struggled to break the partnership. They would have succeeded in making the break through had the fielders not dropped the two batsmen repeatedly. In his stern efforts to dislodge the partnership, Shoaib Akhtar, bowled his heart out. Undaunted by his thunderbolts, the batsmen continued with their spree of fours and sixes. In an effort to maintain his tempo, Shoaib aggravated his injury and walked out of the field to return later. The fielders had let him and other bowlers down badly. A bunch of schoolboys would have perhaps fielded better.

The two batsmen were on the rampage treating every bowler with contempt. In the process, Nathan Astle completed his volcanic century in 29 overs. For such a grand performance he received a standing ovation from the crowd. As Pakistan's frustration continued to mount, Waqar Younus succeeded in achieving the 1st break-through when he clean bowled skipper Fleming, after he put the Black Caps on the path of victory by holding a vital end and contributing an invaluable 60. New Zealand lost the 1st wicket at 193.

New Zealand lost their 2nd wicket at 213 when Roger Twose was packed away by Wasim Akram after scoring 17 runs. Astle, the undisputed hero of the match was the next to go after scoring a match-winning century (119). He was followed on the trail by McMillan, Lou Vincent and Parore. For a change, the Pakistan fielders started accepting catches, but to no avail. The Black Caps lost 6 wickets for 252 runs. The procession started rather too late.

Pakistan was almost back in the game but the margin of runs was rather too small to restrict the Black Caps. The batsmen at the crease though of much lesser merit than the top order, faced the Pakistan bowling with full confidence preventing further loss of wickets. Jacob Oram brought victory to the Black Caps with a fabulous six. By hoisting 290 for 6, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 4 wickets clinching the National Bank One-day Series 3-2.

While Nathan Astle was declared `Man of the Match' for his match winning performance, Waqar was the most successful bowler to claim 3 wickets. The Black Caps deserve kudos for such a brilliant performance. A victory target of 286 runs against a high quality bowling attack was not an easy one. A side with weak nerves would have wilted under pressure. New Zealand kept its composure as well as confidence to defeat a side much higher in international ranking.

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