WELLINGTON: New Zealand ended an 11-match losing streak in emphatic fashion Saturday, crushing Pakistan by nine wickets in their first One-Day International at Westpac Stadium. New Zealand's opening combination of Jesse Ryder (55) and Martin Guptill (40 not out) made a mockery of the troubles Pakistan had with the drop-in pitch as New Zealand raced to its target of 125 for the loss of one wicket in 17.2 overs. Ryder and Guptill brought up the first 50 runs inside six overs and were then forced to take the scheduled tea break after New Zealand had earlier bowled the visitors out for 124 in 37.3 overs. Tim Southee took a career-best 5-33, while wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum took five catches in an innings for the fourth time. “Instead of giving any credit to the pitch we should give credit to the New Zealand bowlers, particularly Tim Southee,” Pakistan coach Waqar Younis told reporters. “He swung the ball and put it in the right areas. Swinging the ball is one thing but putting it in the right areas... we just kept nicking him.” Ryder scored 32 of New Zealand's first 50 runs with three fours and two sixes prior to the break and continued afterwards bringing up his fourth one-day half century off 31 balls before he was caught on the boundary by Asad Shafiq off Sohail Tanvir. Ross Taylor was 23 not out with Guptill at the end of the game. Pakistan, which had won the toss and opted to bat, never looked comfortable with New Zealand's pace bowlers getting good bounce, shape and movement away, causing them to prod at deliveries. Test captain Misbahul Haq was again the mainstay of Pakistan's batting effort with 50, though the rest of the side failed to build any meaningful partnerships, with both Hamish Bennett and Jacob Oram flirting with hat tricks. Bennett finished with 3-26 and Oram 2-33. The next match is Wednesday in Queenstown. Pakistan's oldest Test cricketer Khokar dies Mohammad Aslam Khokar, Pakistan's oldest surviving Test cricketer, died in a Lahore hospital after a prolonged illness, family sources said Saturday. Khokar, who played just one Test for Pakistan on its first-ever tour to England in 1954, turned 91 on Jan. 5 this year. He managed just 16 and 18 in his only Test appearance, in Nottingham. He became a respected umpire at domestic and international level. He officiated three Test matches – all against England – in 1973 and 1977. Former teammate Hanif Mohammad said: “It is sad that we lost Khokar. He was a jolly man and was friendly with everyone.” Doherty replaces Hauritz Australian left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty will replace the injured Nathan Hauritz in the squad for the next two ODIs against England, Cricket Australia said Saturday. The selectors also put Peter Siddle on standby after Mitchell Johnson was ruled out of Sunday's third one-dayer in Sydney, having failed to fully recover from a throat infection.
