Pakistan make just 210 in first ODI

Contrasting half-centuries to captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi added respectability for Pakistan in a modest innings of 210 in the first one-day international against New Zealand in Wellington.

The veteran pair salvaged the tourists faltering batting before they were skittled in 45.3 overs, leaving the Black Caps a relatively meagre target to chase in the first of two ODIs.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and his decision to bowl first was rewarded on the fifth ball as Kyle Mills trapped Mohammad Hafeez without a run on the board.

Pakistan never recovered, with only a patient 58 off 87 balls from Misbah and Afridi’s sizzling 67 off 39 bothering the hosts.

Afridi scored 54 of his runs from boundaries, helped when McCullum dropped a running outfield catch in the 38th over when he was on 14.

Allrounder Grant Elliott returned the best figures of 3-26 off 4.3 overs, his slow seamers helped by the sluggish nature of the Westpac Stadium pitch.

Mills was accurate at the top of the order, taking 2-29 off 10 while new ball partner Trent Boult (2-25) and allrounder Corey Anderson (2-47) also impressed.

New Zealand, coming off a 4-2 series win over Sri Lanka, made four changes from the side who lost the seventh and final game by 34 runs at the same venue on Friday.

McCullum returned, along with pace bowlers Boult and Adam Milne and spinner Nathan McCullum.

They replaced Kane Williamson, who is resting a sore shoulder, Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan and Daniel Vettori.

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