Hay smashes New Zealand to ODI series win over Pakistan
Mitch Hay made an unbeaten 99 to help New Zealand beat Pakistan by 84 runs in Hamilton and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in their ODI series.
Pakistan struggled from the off with errant bowling, exemplified by registering eight wides in the first four overs.
New Zealand's openers, though, were in no mood to hang around and knocked 23 off Akid Javed's first two overs.
The hosts looked good at 97-2 going into the 15th over, until spinner Sufiyan Muqeem (1-33) started changing the narrative.
Muqeem helped limit New Zealand to just 25 runs between the 15th and the 25th overs, but ultimately fought a losing battle.
Hay helped the Black Caps back on top, plundering Muhammad Wasim (2-78) for 49 in his final three overs, including 22 off the last one, as New Zealand finished on 292-8.
Pakistan then struggled to gain a foothold in their innings, with each of the top three in the order falling for a combined total of just five runs.
Faheem Ashraf (73) top-scored for the tourists but, in truth, he was the only glimmer of hope when all else looked lost.
Naseem Shah (51) was the only other Pakistan player to reach a half-century, though New Zealand's victory had been confirmed 30 overs before he was eventually caught by wicketkeeper Hay.
99* - Mitch Hay today became the 2nd @BLACKCAPS player to log 99* not out in ODI history (Bruce Edgar v India - 14 Feb 1981); West Indies (x4), Zimbabwe (x3) & Australia (x3) are the only other teams to have had 2+ players in this category in the men's format. Club.#NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/Zs7ijrWh5Y
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) April 2, 2025
Data Debrief: Hay makes history
Hay became the second New Zealand player to record 99 not out in an ODI alongside Bruce Edgar v India in February 1981. The West Indies, Zimbabwe and Australia are the only other teams to have had two or more players do the same in men's cricket.
The Black Caps also claimed a fifth consecutive ODI victory over Pakistan, doing so for the first time since a 12-game run from December to November 2018.
New Zealand also extended their longest winning run at Seddon Park to 10 ODI matches. Their last defeat at the venue came in a four-wicket loss against South Africa on 19 February 2017.