CRICKET: Larsen steers New Zealand to narrow win

Pakistan 232-9 New Zealand 236-9 New Zealand win by 1 wicket

New Zealand pulled off a thrilling one-wicket win over Pakistan in their one-day international at Christchurch yesterday. Requiring 233 for victory, they reached their target with one ball to spare.

They seemed to have the game under control at 204 for 4 in the 46th over, with Nottinghamshire's Chris Cairns and Adam Parore well set, but they lost five wickets in 18 balls as Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis made late inroads.

When the final over came, with Wasim bowling, the home side still needed 10 runs. They got a leg-bye off the first ball and two runs off the second,and Gavin Larsen cracked a second successive full toss to the extra cover fence for four. He failed to score from the next two balls, but then levelled the scores by hitting another no-ball for two through extra cover, and clinched the win with a four to third-man.

Danny Morrison proved a decisive factor for New Zealand. In claiming 5 for 46, his best one-day figures, he helped restrict Pakistan to 232 with Salim Malik top-scoring with 58.

ONE-DAY MATCH (Christchurch): Pakistan 232-9 (50 overs; Salim Malik 58; D K Morrison 5-46). New Zealand 236-9 (49.5 overs). New Zealand win by one wicket. Series level at 1-1.