Black Caps folied by Pakistan

New Zealand came up seven runs short as Pakistan claimed a Twenty20 series victory in Dubai.

Umar Akmal's 56 off 49 balls, his best haul to date at international level in the 20-over format, proved crucial for Pakistan who sealed a 2-0 series success.

Scott Styris gave the Black Caps a glimmer of hope with 43 off 33 balls but they were unable to pull off the required last-over heroics as they posted 146 for five.
Akmal helped Pakistan to a respectable 153 for five batting at three, a tally featuring five fours and a six.

His supporting cast were less impressive, however, as Black Caps bowler Ian Butler, who took no wickets for 42 runs from his three overs in the first clash of the sides at the same venue yesterday, claimed three victims this time around to give his side hope.

Butler overcame the indignity of a wide and then being hit for six by Imran Nazir in his first over by removing the opener for 19 after he tried to play his shot too early and was skittled.

He took his second wicket in the seventh over as Kamran Akmal was trapped lbw for 26.
Shahid Afridi added 22 to the Pakistan total off 17 balls before he was caught at deep midwicket by Shane Bond off the bowling of Nathan McCullum.

Butler's third wicket came in the 15th over as Shoaib Malik skied a shot to Styris running in from deep extra cover and Abdul Razzaq was out for a first-ball duck to James Franklin.

Umar Akmal was the man who kept the scoreboard ticking over with Fawad Alam contributing a very handy 17 off 13, including a six off Butler in the penultimate over.

It took until the fourth over for Pakistan to make their first breakthrough as Bradley-John Watling fell for seven to Sohail Tanvir edging to Kamran Akmal, but Brendon McCullum - who finished with 47 off 41 balls at the top of the order - kept New Zealand competitive.

However, it was his dismissal in the penultimate over by Saeed Ajmal which effectively ended any hope of a surprise recovery.

Martin Guptill became the first of two victims for Umar Gul for 17, who skittled him before claiming the wicket of Styris with the last ball of the match, caught by Malik.

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