Rawalpindi, Dec 07: Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed rewrote the record books with a fourth successive century stand today as Pakistan claimed a comprehensive 49-run win and a 5-0 one-day whitewash over New Zealand. Openers Farhat and Hameed notched a century each in Pakistan's healthy total of 277 for four at Pindi Cricket Stadium in the fifth and final one-day international cricket match of the series.
The black caps could only reply with 228 for six off its 50 overs, including an unbeaten 62 off 66 balls from star performer Hamish Marshall and 49 runs from Richard Jones.
Farhat and Hameed's 197-run opening partnership broke the previous first wicket record by any team against New Zealand, made when Pakistan's Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti combined for 194 in the 1999 World Cup semifinal at Manchester, England.
Pakistan won the high-scoring opening one-day match against New Zealand by three wickets and dominated the inexperienced kiwis throughout the series with comprehensive victories of 124 runs, 51 runs and seven wickets in the next three games.
"Pakistan got off to a good starts with Yasir (Hameed) and Imran (Farhat) being the stars of the series and conversely we did not get good starts," said losing captain Chris Cairns, who had to lead the an inexperienced side in the absence of several key players.
Pakistan has now claimed its second successive clean sweep of New Zealand at home after winning last year's series 3-0.
"It's nice to win 5-0 before going to New Zealand. The credit goes to both openers, who scored loads of runs and put new zealand under pressure," said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who will lead the side in the two Tests and five one-day international series in New Zealand, starting later this month.
Craig Cumming (17) and Jones provided a slow start of 50 runs for New Zealand before the former was trapped leg before by Abdul Razzaq in the 17th over. The innings fell in tatters with Jones, Mathew Sinclair and Jacob Oram run out thanks to some impressive Pakistani fielding.
Cairns's disappointing tour ended on a sour note when he scored just six runs and pulled speedster Shoaib Akhtar to deep mid-wicket.
With New Zealand requiring a monumental 118 off the last 10 overs, Marshall and Canning (23 not out) narrowed the margin of defeat.
"It would have been nice to come away with at least one win but that's not to be but constantly we said that it's all about learning," Cairns said.
Earlier, after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat, Farhat (107) hit a dozen boundaries in his maiden century while Hameed scored a career-best unbeaten 127 off 154 balls to build their record-breaking opening stand. Bureau Report