Pakistan win toss, bowling in third New Zealand ODI

TAURANGA (AFP): Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl Saturday in the weather-affected third and final one-day international against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.

The match was reduced to 42 overs each after a wet outfield at Bay Oval delayed the start of play by nearly two hours.

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The home side hold an unassailable 2-0 lead after winning in Napier by 73 runs and in Hamilton by 84 runs.

Despite having wrapped up the series, New Zealand have kept nearly the same team as the Hamilton match, only replacing all-rounder Nathan Smith with batsman Tim Seifert.

Pakistan have also made one change, with Haris Rauf making way for fellow-pace bowler Naseem Shah.

New Zealand: Nick Kelly, Rhys Mariu, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert, Michael Bracewell (capt), Muhammad Abbas, Mitchell Hay, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam Ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim, Akif Javed

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Umpires: Chris Brown (NZL), Paul Reiffel (AUS)

TV umpire: Michael Gough (ENG)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)