Misbah, who has anchored Pakistan's batting throughout the
tour of New Zealand, proved once again a thorn in the side of Daniel Vettori's
team, scoring 93 not out as Pakistan finished on 264 for eight in 49 overs
having chased down the host's 262 for seven.
The Pakistan test captain, who had been coasting to the
victory target while batting with Younus Khan (42), was forced to take all the
responsibility of getting his side home when Younus was run out in the 38th
over.
Umar Akmal then scratched around for 10 off 17 balls before
he was well caught in the 43rd over by Nathan McCullum off Vettori, who trapped
Shahid Afridi in front two balls later to give New Zealand a faint hope of
running through the bowlers to win the match and take a 2-1 lead in the best of
six series.
Misbah, however, and Abdul Razzaq (23) managed to keep pace
with the required run rate and while Razzaq was well caught by a hobbling
Vettori, Misbah smashed 10 runs off two balls from Scott Styris and Sohail
Tanvir (14) hit three boundaries off Tim Southee the next over to see their
side home.
Late call-up James Franklin had proved the savior of New
Zealand's innings, which was about 30 runs short of a par total on a good
batting wicket with short square boundaries.
Franklin was only brought into the side after Jesse Ryder, who
injured a finger while playing for Wellington at the weekend, withdrew before
play began.
The left-hander, who had scores of 72 not out, 98 not out
and 17 not out in his previous three innings in India last December, top-scored
with 62 to help arrest New Zealand's mid-innings slump.
The hosts had romped to 40 without loss but lost three
wickets for four runs and then slumped to 79 for five before Franklin's 62-run
partnership with Brendon McCullum (37) and a stand of 64 runs with Nathan
McCullum (53 not out) halted the slide.
