Hamilton: Mitch Hay’s rollicking 99 not out backed by some feisty seam bowling steered New Zealand to an 84-run win over Pakistan on Wednesday to take an unbeatable lead in their one-day international series.

New Zealand made 292-8 and bowled Pakistan out for 208 in the 42nd over in Hamilton in the second of three ODIs.

Hay’s lusty hitting snapped a mid-innings slump by the hosts as he raced to a career-best score which included 22 off the final over by Mohammad Wasim.

The wicketkeeper-batsman smacked seven fours and as many sixes in his 78-ball innings after going into the middle with New Zealand struggling at 132-5 in the 27th over.

In reply Pakistan were in early trouble when Will O’Rourke had Abdullah Shafique (one) caught at first slip in the third over and in the following over Babar Azam (one) was caught at second slip off Jacob Duffy.

Duffy struck again in his next over with the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq. Pakistan were 9-3 in the sixth over when New Zealand at the same stage were 50-0.

Ben Sears entered the attack and took two wickets in his first over, removing Salman Agha for nine and Mohammad Rizwan for five.

A combination of poor shot selection and some lively seam bowling reduced Pakistan to 32-5 after 12 overs.

Tayyab Tahir (13) and Faheem Ashraf put on 33 for the sixth wicket and when Haris Rauf retired hurt on three, his concussion replacement Naseem Shah put on 60 with Ashraf.

Both posted maiden 50s with Ashraf scoring 73 off 80 deliveries and Naseem making 51 from 44.
Sears took 5-59 for New Zealand.

Rizwan won the toss and opted to bowl with overcast skies and a green-tinged wicket favoring the bowlers.

Novice Black Cap openers Nick Kelly and Rhys Mariu took control early.

They put on 54 before Kelly, in only his second international, was caught behind for a hard-hitting 31 which included four fours and two sixes.

Debutant Mariu followed soon after for 18 off 25 when a leading edge lobbed up to Azam at mid-off in Wasim’s opening over.

Wasim and Rauf slowed the scoring and it took Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell until the 16th over to get New Zealand to the 100 mark.

The introduction of spin brought Mitchell’s innings to a halt for 18, stumped by Rizwan when beaten in the air by Sufyan Moqim. Nicholls went for 22 in the following over.

Michael Bracewell and Muhammad Abbas added only 30 runs in the next 10 overs when Bracewell was caught behind off Wasim for 17.

Pakistan-born Abbas and Hay set about restoring the innings with a patient 77-run partnership until Abbas went for 41.

Moqim was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 2-33 while Wasim took 2-78.

The third and final match is at Mount Maunganui on Friday.

Danilo Pereira was the hero, grabbing two goals in injury time, as Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Shabab 3-2 in a thrilling King’s Cup semi-final on Tuesday. They will face either Al-Qadsiah or Al-Raed, who play on Wednesday, in the final next month.

It was a thrilling tie. A penalty converted by Fabinho early in the first half seemed to put Al-Ittihad on course for a place in the final of Saudi Arabia’s premier domestic cup competition for the 19th time, and the chance to lift the trophy for the 10th time. But Al-Shabab had other ideas, scoring twice in the space of three minutes after the break to turn the tie on its head.

There was still time for a dramatic late twist, however, that means the prospect of the league and cup double remains very much alive for the Jeddah giants.

There were only 14 minutes on the clock when the Tigers took the lead. Al-Shabab defender Robert Renan brought down Abdulrahman Al-Oboud in the area, former Liverpool star Fabinho stepped up to take the spot kick and kept his cool to put his team ahead.

The only other highlight of the first half was another of the famous “tifo” visual displays from Al-Ittihad’s fans. It featured an image of star striker Karim Benzema wielding a hammer, inviting him to smash the opposition.

Things did not quite work out that way, however, as Al-Shabab fought back. In the 64th minute, Cristian Guanca picked up possession 30 yards from goal and unleashed a spectacular shot into the top corner. Three minutes later, Yannick Carrasco floated over a cross to the far post and Guanca struck again, this time heading home.

Al-Shabab seemed headed for a famous win and things were still looking good for them when the 90-minute mark ticked by.

But then, as the prospect of a fourth successive semi-final defeat loomed for Al-Ittihad, Pereira intervened. His first goal came in the 92nd minute. Benzema had a big part to play in it, greeting a corner kick with a header directed toward the top corner of the net. The attempt was saved but Pereira was well placed to head home the rebound.

Six minutes later and the comeback was complete. It began with another corner, which this time bounced off a defender in the crowded area but Pereira was there again, waiting to pounce and fire in the winner from close range, breaking Al-Shabab hearts and sending Al-Ittihad into the final for the first time in six years.