On this day in 2018, New Zealand’s Trent Boult delivered a sensational bowling performance to guide his team to a dominant 183-run victory over Pakistan in the third ODI at the University Oval, Dunedin. Boult’s outstanding figures of 5 for 17 played a pivotal role in bowling Pakistan out for just 74 runs, securing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
New Zealand Set a Competitive Total
After electing to bat first, New Zealand faced early trouble when opener Colin Munro was dismissed cheaply. However, skipper Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill steadied the innings with a crucial partnership. Guptill contributed a steady 45 runs, while Williamson anchored the innings with a composed 73.
Ross Taylor also chipped in with a valuable half-century, scoring 52 runs, which helped New Zealand recover from the early setback. Despite a middle-order collapse, the lower order contributed enough runs to push the total to 257 before being bowled out in the final over. Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Rumman Raees and Hasan Ali, impressed by taking three wickets each.
Boult’s Devastating Opening Spell
Pakistan’s chase got off to a disastrous start, thanks to a fiery opening spell from Trent Boult. Generating movement off the pitch, Boult removed Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, and Mohammad Hafeez in quick succession, leaving Pakistan reeling at 2 for 3. His swing bowling was virtually unplayable, dismantling Pakistan’s top order with ease.
The situation went from bad to worse as Pakistan’s batting lineup crumbled, collapsing to 32 for 8 at one stage. Brief resistance from lower-order batters Mohammad Amir and Rumman Raees, who scored 14 and 16 runs respectively, only delayed the inevitable. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for a mere 74 runs in 27.2 overs, marking the lowest ODI total by a visiting team on New Zealand soil.
Boult’s Match-Winning Performance
Boult’s incredible figures of 5 for 17 in just 7.2 overs earned him the Player of the Match award. This remarkable performance came shortly after his career-best figures of 7 for 34 against the West Indies less than a month earlier.
The third ODI in Dunedin remains a memorable game for Boult’s masterful swing bowling, which left Pakistan’s batting lineup in tatters. His efforts not only secured the series win for New Zealand but also highlighted his status as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers.
