NZ rack up huge score against Pakistan

Kane Williamson celebrated his latest leap up the world batting rankings with a majestic century as New Zealand posted an enormous total in the second one-day international against Pakistan.

Williamson scored 112 off 88 balls as the hosts racked up 5-369, their fifth-highest total in ODIs against an inexperienced Pakistan bowling lineup which toiled on the flat surface at Napier.

Ross Taylor put the icing on the cake, reaching an unbeaten 102 with a snicked four off the final ball, the 100th ton by a Black Caps player.

Pakistan, who were thrashed by seven wickets in the first ODI at Wellington on Saturday, must score 370 under lights to square the series in both teams’ last official game before the World Cup.

The visitors had few answers after opener Martin Guptill laid the foundation with a sound 76, accelerating after stuttering to 19 from his first 43 balls.

Captain Brendon McCullum, who won the toss, departed for 31 before Guptill and Williamson put on 128 for the second wicket.

Williamson was fluent from the outset, going on to hit 14 fours and a six in scoring his sixth ODI ton.

It come on the day he learned he had improved to sixth in the ICC’s world ODI batting rankings, a rare high for a New Zealander which reflects his prolific form.

The 24-year-old has scored 1014 runs from his last 16 innings at an average of 67.6.

He was caught at short fine leg with 11 overs left off towering seamer Mohammad Irfan (2-52), who was comfortably the pick of the bowlers, conceding 16 runs from his first six overs.

He was punished at the death by Grant Elliott (28) and Taylor, whose 70 ball knock was his 12th ODI ton.

Taylor’s highlight was a 90m blow over midwicket which cleared the McLean Park grandstand.

Of New Zealand’s leading ODI run-scorers, Williamson (46.3) and Taylor (42.0) have comfortably the best averages and are in prime form heading into the World Cup starting on February 14.

Pakistan are at a low ebb, having learned earlier on Tuesday that frontline pace bowler Junaid Khan has been ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury.

They produced a shoddy fielding effort while their bowling lacked variation.

Seamer Bilawal Bhatti, the most likely replacement for Khan, was smashed for 93 runs off his 10 overs.

They fielded an unchanged team from Wellington while the Black Caps recalled Williamson, Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee for Tom Latham, Corey Anderson and Kyle Mills.

ODI WORLD BATTING RANKINGS

891 ranking points – AB de Villiers (South Africa)

867 – Hashim Amla (South Africa)

831 – Virat Kohli (India)

823 – Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

785 – Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)

757 – Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!