Scoring a century is a milestone every batter dreams of, but for Mitchell Hay, being stranded on 99 was no disappointment.
Scoring a century didn't cross my mind... I was just swinging for the hills and hoping, really
Hay, after his match-winning knock helped New Zealand defeat Pakistan by 84 runs in the second ODI at Seddon Park, said
His unbeaten 99 provided the backbone of New Zealand’s innings as they recovered from a precarious 132/5 to post 292/8 in 50 overs. The hosts then wrapped up an emphatic win, sealing an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, thanks to a lethal bowling display from Ben Sears (5-59).
Building the Comeback
After losing early wickets to Pakistan's attack—Nick Kelly falling to Haris Rauf, while Mohammad Wasim and Sufiyan Muqeem made further inroads—New Zealand needed stability. Hay, along with Mohammad Abbas (41), dug in to rebuild. Their crucial 77-run stand tilted the momentum.
It was pretty tough out there to start with. Mo (Abbas) was a calming influence. He's crazy mature beyond his years, and it was really nice to be out there with him.
Hay admitted
Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s decision to bowl first initially looked promising, but Hay’s calculated aggression in the later overs ensured New Zealand set a challenging target.
Sears’ Five-Wicket Haul Wrecks Pakistan
Pakistan's chase started disastrously. New Zealand’s pace battery of Jacob Duffy and Will O’Rourke dismantled the top order, removing Abdullah Shafique (1), Babar Azam (1), and Imam-ul-Haq (3) within six overs, leaving them reeling at 9/3.
Sears then took over, dismissing Rizwan (5) and Salman Agha (9) in quick succession. Pakistan crumbled to 32/5 inside 12 overs, their hopes fading fast.
Despite a late fightback from Faheem Ashraf (73) and Naseem Shah (51), Sears’ relentless pace ensured there was no comeback.
"The Bowlers Were Awesome Tonight"
Hay credited the bowlers for making his job easier. "The bowlers were awesome tonight, which made the job a lot easier for me. It was a great all-round performance."
Pakistan’s lower order put up brief resistance, but after Haris Rauf was struck on the helmet and retired hurt, the visitors had little chance of chasing down the target.
New Zealand now heads into the final ODI in Mount Maunganui with the series already won, while Pakistan will aim for a consolation victory to salvage pride.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand 292/8 in 50 overs (Mitchell Hay 99*, Mohammad Abbas 41; Sufiyan Muqeem 2-33, Mohammad Wasim 2-78)
Pakistan 208 all out in 41.2 overs (Faheem Ashraf 73, Naseem Shah 51; Ben Sears 5-59, Jacob Duffy 3-35)
New Zealand won by 84 runs and sealed the series 2-0.