AUCKLAND: A Jesse Ryder century drove New Zealand to a consolation 57-run win in the final One-Day International against Pakistan in Auckland Saturday. With only pride at stake after Pakistan had already wrapped up the series, New Zealand posted 311-7 and then rolled the tourists over for 254 in the 45th over. Ryder, who had five ducks in nine previous Test and ODI innings against Pakistan, including two first-ball dismissals, found his touch to make 107 as New Zealand wrapped up its preparations for the World Cup. After being put in to bat New Zealand produced its most impressive innings of the series, with Ryder's performance its best individual score. He came in at No. 3 after Brendon McCullum, restored as an opener, was out early for 12 and set about the Pakistan bowling in belligerent fashion. After being dropped by Abdul Razzaq on 13, Ryder offered no further chances in his batting blitz until his eventual dismissal, when he mishit spinner Mohammad Hafeez and was caught by Sohail Tanvir at long on. His 107 came from 93 deliveries and included six sixes and seven fours, and a 123-run stand for the second wicket with Martin Guptill. Guptill made a sound start, as he has done throughout the series, before throwing his wicket away with a rash shot on 44 when caught by Umar Gul at long on off the bowling of Abdul Razzaq. It started a New Zealand slide that saw it slump from 141-1 to 190-5 when Ryder was dismissed. Scott Styris (58 not out) and Nathan McCullum (65) picked up the pace for New Zealand in the closing overs as they produced a 120-run stand for the sixth wicket in 14 overs. Pakistan's run chase hit an early hurdle when Ahmed Shehzad, a century-maker in the last game, was removed in the third over by Kyle Mills for six with Hafeez (21) and Younis Khan (16) following soon after. Kamran Akmal and Asad Shafiq set about repairing the innings with a 74-run stand for the fourth wicket until a lack of clear calling saw Asad run out for 26 and Pakistan were 132-4 in the 24th over. At that stage they required a demanding albeit achievable target of nearly seven an over, but when James Franklin removed Umar Akmal (8) and Pakistan's top scorer Kamran Akmal (89) in quick succession the writing was on the wall. Shahid Afridi attempted to keep the innings alive and reached 44 off a watchful 70 deliveries before he fell to New Zealand's leading wicket-taker Hamish Bennett, who finished with the figures of 46-4 off 8.1 overs. Pakistan won the six match series 3-2 with one game abandoned. – Agence France
