Two games now remain for the World Cup hopefuls to show why they must be in the final squad of 15 for February, in Abu Dhabi tomorrow night and again on Friday night.
There are two games to be won to enable New Zealand to head home feeling happy with the overall outcomes of the trip to the UAE. Test and T20 series were squared, only favourable results in Abu Dhabi are needed to round off the view that considerable steps have been taken away from home in conditions as unlike New Zealand's as you will find anywhere in the game.
The selectors, Mike Hesson and Bruce Edgar, aren't going to deviate from their chosen group of fast-medium bowling choices this late, even after a dog's breakfast of a job yesterday.
Collectively Matt Henry, Mitch McClenaghan, Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham shipped 304 runs from 39 overs. They seemed fixated on bowling short -- one McClenaghan delivery bounced so short that he flew high over the batsman's head and bounced well before reaching wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi -- and paid a hefty price.
It smacked either of a poorly designed plan or just plain abject bowling, and suggested bowlers unable to think on their feet when things were going badly awry.
It was crossbat heaven for batsmen who knew how to reach the shortish boundaries. Pakistan clouted 11 sixes and 37 fours in their record breaking 364 for seven. Opener Ahmed Shehzad was the star turn, his 113 off 120 balls his sixth ODI hundred, putting Pakistan well out in front by halfway in the contest.
Captain Shahid Afridi, Haris Sohail and last pair Sarfraz Ahmed and Sohail Tanvir climbed in to such effect that Pakistan scored 125 in the last 10 overs.
New Zealand's chase was in early trouble and the eventual 147-run margin was not flattering to Pakistan.
The opening issue remains vexing, particularly as the selectors want to give Martin Guptill as much time, and opportunity, as possible, yet he's not in form and was clearly outpointed for pace by big Mohammed Irfan yesterday.
"We certainly weren't at our best and Pakistan were at their best. We know we can play better than that," stand-in captain Kane Williamson said.
He had his own issues in the field, with New Zealand 20 minutes over time getting through their 50 overs.
Several New Zealand players will need to think hard about what lies ahead. Guptill and Neesham may be on thinner ice than before this tour; Devcich needs to make every innings count. Anderson's bowling is looking highly hittable while Matt Henry needs to keep taking wickets as he is likely sitting right up the cusp.
A big two games coming up.
New Zealand's next order of business are Sri Lanka, who arrive shortly for two tests and seven ODIs.
They will be without the now-retired batsman Mahela Jayawardene but will be inspired by Kumar Sangakkara, who averages a fantastic 58 over 128 tests and is the game's fifth highest test runmaker.
Opener Upul Tharanga has been dumped, while clever spinner Rangana Herath is likely to only play the second test for family reasons.
The first test starts at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Boxing Day.
Sri Lankan test squad: Angelo Matthews (c), Kaushal Silva, Dimute Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Nicoshan Dickwella, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath.
Fast facts
Pakistan's 364 for seven is their third highest ODI score, their highest against New Zealand and highest made on that ground in 218 matches since 1984.
Yesterday's defeat was New Zealand's 11th in 12 games against Pakistan in Sharjah.
Only Martin Snedden (12-1-105-2) and Tim Southee (10-0-105-0) have had worse ODI figures than Corey Anderson's 10-0-96-1.
- David Leggat of the New Zealand Herald
