14 Dec 2014

Black Caps level one-day series

11:27 am on 14 December 2014

The Black Caps have survived a mid-innings slump to beat Pakistan by four wickets in the second one-day cricket international in Sharjah and level the five-match series 1-all.

Kane Williamson and Anton Devcich make a great start as openers in the 2nd T20 in Dubai.

Black Caps batsmen Kane Williamson and Anton Devcich in action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Batting first Pakistan made 252 all out with the Black Caps pacemen Matt Henry and Mitchell McClenaghan claiming seven wickets between them.

Henry finished with figures of 4 for 45 from 10 overs, while McClenaghan ended with 3 for 56 off 9.3 overs.

Fellow seamer Adam Milne snared two scalps, while all-rounder Corey Anderson bagged one.

New Zealand then looked to be cruising to victory at 103 without loss before losing six wickets to let Pakistan back into the match.

However captain Kane Williamson steadied the ship with his unbeaten 70 lifting the tourists to a comfortable victory with four overs remaining.

The ever humble skipper was duly named man of the match.

Batsman Dean Bronwlie scored 47 runs while fellow opener Anton Devcich scored 58 before being run out, a dismissal Williamson says he takes the blame for.

Wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi contributed a well timed 36 at the back of the innings to help steer the Black Caps to victory.

The third one-dayer is on Sunday night also in Sharjah.

Meanwhile the Black Caps seamer Kyle Mills will return home from the tour of the United Arab Emirates, after suffering a right groin strain at training on Thursday.

The 34-year old suffered the injury while bowling in the nets ahead of the second one-dayer.

A timeline for Mills' return is not yet known, and he will fly back to New Zealand for further assessment and treatment.

No decision has yet been made on whether Mills will be replaced on tour.