Date-stamped : 13 Jan96 - 18:33 ODI # 1026 New Zealand v Pakistan, 4th One-day International. Eden Park, Auckland. 23 December 1995. N.Z. level one-day series against Pakistan - Qamar Ahmed Pakistan failed to capitalise on their 2-1 lead in the four-match one-day series against New Zealand and in the end had to be con- tent with a drawn series. After being set an awesome 245 runs to win a match of 45 overs instead of 50 because of delayed start due to rain, Pakistan suc- cumbed under pressure to be all out for 212 in 41.4 overs and conceded the match by 32 runs to enable New Zealand draw the series. They had entered the final one-day match at Eden Park aiming to finish the tour at a winning note but after asking New Zealand to bat, Pakistan bowled poorly and fielded atrociously to allow New Zealand make a match winning score. In nine overs Waqar Younus gave away 73 runs for his three wickets of no consequence. Twenty-one extras in the innings spoiled the matter further. In his first four overs Waqar Younus had given away 33 runs and yet he was allowed five more whereas Aqib Javed only bowled six and Mushtaq Ahmed seven which indeed was mind boggling. In fact this is how Pakistan lost the match. Pakistan`s batting was very much reminiscent of New Zealand`s at- tempt in the third one-day to win the match by playing attacking cricket. New Zealand paid the price at the Basin reserve for be- ing over ambitious and so did Pakistan at Eden Park. In 10 overs Pakistan`s score was past 50 runs with Aamir Sohail and Ramiz Raja entertaining a crowd of 12,000 with blistering strokeplay. In 45 balls Aamir Sohail had made 37 with six fourths and a six off Chris Cairns before being caught at gully by Dipak Patel off Cairns. Saleem Elahi, the only change in the Pakistan team for Ijaz Ahmed was dropped by Patel at long off when 4 off Gavin Larsen but was later given run out in controversial circumstances by the third umpire Evan Watkin. One of the bails had been dislodged by the bowler Larsen before a direct throw from Nathan Astle hit the stumps. The bowler did not pull the stumps out with the ball in his hand according to the laws of the game which he should have Saleem Elahi was unlucky. When Ramiz Raja was caught at third man off Nathan Astle for 46 in the 22nd over and Inzamam-ul-Haq also fell off him and Basit Ali was run out without scoring by an Astle throw, the match was almost over as far as Pakistan was concerned. Wickets continued to tumble. Wasim Akram drove straight into the hands of Astle off a delivery from Danny Morrison and Rashid La- tif was bowled by Larsen to make Pakistan 146 for 7 in the 32nd over. Salim Malik, however, played his best innings of the tour to make 58 with four boundaries and three sixes to give Pakistan a little hope of reaching near the target. With Mushtaq Ahmed his partner for the eighth wicket he put on 42 runs but once the stand was broken and he was the ninth man out, the target was of no consequence as there were not many left to go for it. New Zealand after being put in never missed any opportunity of picking up runs as Pakistan failed to restrict their brisk run- rate. Poor field placing has a lot to do with it. Singles and twos were there for the asking as the batsmen pushed and ran to keep the five runs over average well in control. Bryan Young was caught at the wicket at 28 when 15 off Aqib Javed but Stephen Fleming and Craig Spearman added 60 runs for the second wicket to set New Zealand on course for a big score. Spearman`s 48 contained six fours and Fleming, who was caught by Wasim Akram off Aamir Sohail at mid-wicket for 38, added another quick 44 runs for the third wicket with Parore. Cairns fell chea- ply off Sohail but another solid stand of 59 between Parore and Roger Twose made New Zealand score look respectable. Parore made 42 and Twose hit 41 to help New Zealand make 244 for 8 and chal- lenge Pakistan to have a go. Pakistan failed and New Zealand levelled the one-day series. Source :: Dawn Wire Service Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)