Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar help Pakistan draw level

Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets in the second day-night international ODI in Abu Dhabi, levelling the three-match series 1-1 on Friday.

Paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi took a career best 4-38 to keep New Zealand down to 209-9 in their 50 overs before Fakhar Zaman (88) and Babar Azam (46) helped Pakistan reach the target in 40.3 overs.

Afridi led the charge, picking up four wickets as he disintegrated the Kiwis’ middle-order. Hassan Ali picked up two wickets for 59 runs.

Ross Taylor top-scored with a 120-ball 86 and Henry Nicholls made 33 off 63 balls and together added 75 for the fifth wicket to lift their team from 73-4.

For Pakistan, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf replaced fast bowler Junaid Khan, who is suffering from an infection in his right foot toe. Junaid has also been ruled out of the third ODI against New Zealand on Sunday.

Junaid Khan out of New Zealand series

Ashraf failed to take any wickets, conceding 26 runs in his seven overs.

The Kiwis were unchanged from the first ODI, in which they defeated Pakistan by 47 runs on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pakistan appeared to be in a stronger position on Friday despite the fact that the Kiwis have an upper hand with a 5-1 winning ratio against the Green Shirts. The two sides have faced each other six times in Abu Dhabi.

Trent Boult’s devastating bowling on Wednesday exposed Pakistan’s top order as he became the third New Zealand bowler to claim an ODI hat-trick.

The 29-year-old dismissed Fakhar Zaman (one), Babar Azam (nought) and Mohammad Hafeez (nought) in the third over. While skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim and Shoaib Malik tried to lift the innings with half-centuries, they could not fix the damage from the first 20 overs of the innings.

The third and final match is in Dubai on Sunday.