Styris lifts NZ to one-day victory
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Scott Styris fired an unbeaten century and took three wickets as New Zealand beat Pakistan by four wickets in the first of five one-day internationals at Auckland's Eden Park.
Styris blasted 10 fours and two sixes to finish 101 not out as the home side reached their 230-run target in the final over.
Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan earlier scored 72 off 68 balls as Pakistan made 229-7 from their 50 overs.
Yasir Hameed and Imran Farhat put on 47 for the first wicket, but the tourists slipped back to 84-5, with Styris picking up the wickets of Salemm Elahi, Shoaib Malik and Inzamam-ul-Haq.
New Zealand's run chase got off to a bad start when opener Craig Cumming was run out for one and Hamish Marshall was caught off Shabbir Ahmed for 14.
But captain Stephen Fleming's 45, ended when he skied Azhar Mahmood to Mohammad Sami, got the innings moving and Styris then picked up the initiative, despite a regular turnover of batting partners.
"It was nice to get across the line," said Fleming.
"We were under a lot of pressure but Eden Park is a tough ground to defend and as long as we had Scotty (Styris) there I knew we had a chance."
Pakistan coach Javed Miandad admitted Styris' innings had taken the match away from his side.
"I thought we had it in the middle of their innings but Styris batted magnificently. He was a real hero for New Zealand," said Miandad.
