A maiden century from Hamish Marshall went in vain on Wednesday as Pakistan won the third one-day international against New Zealand by 51 runs. Despite Marshall’s well-crafted hundred, the first of his career at any level, Pakistan took a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The 24-year-old Aucklander batted 35 overs for his unbeaten 101 from 109 balls with seven fours and two sixes. He shared in a 107-run partnership with Chris Harris (46 off 62 balls), the highest of the innings. Despite the partnership, New Zealand were never able to maintain a run rate that challenged Pakistan’s 314 for seven. Marshall, playing in only his third one-day international, reached his half-century from 70 balls after three wickets were down for 81 in 22 overs. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, returning to the side after serving a three-match ban, drew first blood when he had Craig Cumming (10) caught behind in the third over. Abdul Razzaq then got the other opener Richard Jones (23) out to a sharp catch by Yasir Hameed at midwicket and Mathew Sinclair (32) was run out by a direct throw from Yousuf Youhana. Marshall and Harris retrieved the situation somewhat with some sensible batting before Muhammad Sami returned to clean up Harris. The veteran of 237 matches, playing for the first time in the series, was beaten for pace by Sami who then put the result beyond doubt by dismissing acting captain Chris Cairns. Cairns had belted a huge six off Shoaib Malik before he skied a catch to Shabbir Ahmed at wide mid-off. Sami, who destroyed the Black Caps on Monday in Lahore with a spell of five wickets in 11 balls, was again sharp and incisive. He also trapped Brendon McCullum leg before for one to end with three wickets from three overs in his second spell.
