Openers sweep Pakistan to victory

Pakistan 277-4 New Zealand 228-6 Pakistan win by 49 runs

Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed rewrote the record books with a fourth successive century stand yesterday as Pakistan claimed a comprehensive 49-run win and a 5-0 one-day whitewash over New Zealand.

Openers Farhat and Hameed notched a century each in Pakistan's healthy total of 277 for 4 here in the final one-day international of the series.

The Black Caps could only reply with 228 for 6 off their 50 overs, including an unbeaten 62 off 66 balls from Hamish Marshall.

Farhat and Hameed's 197-run opening partnership broke the previous first-wicket record by a team against New Zealand, made when Pakistan's Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti combined for 194 in the 1999 World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.

Pakistan dominated the inexperienced Kiwis throughout the series with comprehensive victories of three wickets, 124 runs, 51 runs and seven wickets in the first four games, completing a second successive clean sweep of New Zealand at home after winning last year's series 3-0.

FIFTH ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL (Rawalpindi): Pakistan 277-4 (Yasir Hameed 127 no, Imran Farhat 107) v New Zealand 228-6 (H J H Marshall 62 no). Pakistan beat New Zealand by 49 runs; Pakistan win series 5-0.