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Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq was taken off the field during third and final ODI of the series at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui as he took a blow to his jaw from a fielder's throw on the non-striker's end. Imam was in agonising pain and got medical attention on the field. Then, he was taken off the field by an ambulance.
The incident took place during the third over of Pakistan's run chase in the rain-curtailed game. Imam played a delivery from William ORourke towards off-side and rushed to take a single. The throw came at the non-striker's end and hit his helmet. The opener took off his helmet, removed the ball and held his jaw. Imam had faced seven deliveries and scored one run before he was taken off the field.
Usman Khan has been named as Imam's replacement as concussion substitute, Pakistan Cricket confirmed in a post on social media.
In the previous game, Haris Rauf was hit on the helmet and Naseem Shah replaced him as concussion substitute. Naseem went on to score a blazing half-century in the unsuccessful run chase, his first in the ODIs.
Javed gets 4, Mariu and Bracewell score fifties
Earlier, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bowl. Naseem replaced Rauf in the side. He dismissed Nick Kelly for a single-digit score. Henry Nicholls got off to a good start but fell to young left-arm pacer Akif Javed. Nicholls scored 31 runs from 40 balls. Young Rhys Mariu scored his maiden ODI century. He was dismissed by left-arm chinaman bowler Sufiyan Muqeem. The opener scored 58 runs from 61 balls, including six fours and a couple of sixes.
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Playing an ODI after six years, Tim Seifert got off to a good start but could not score big. Naseem got rid of him in the 32nd over. He scored 26 runs from 29 balls. A few overs later, Javed ended Daryl Mitchell's stay at the crease. Mitchell scored 43 runs from 53 balls.
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Skipper Michael Bracewell took charge of the innings. Young all-rounder Muhammad Abbas could not do much with the bat. He departed for a run-a-ball 11 and became Javed's third victim of the day. Wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay could not do much either and fell for a single-digit score to Faheem Ashraf. Bracewell's half-century helped New Zealand post 264/8 in the 42 overs per side encounter. He scored 59 runs from 40 balls, including one four and six sixes. Javed got his wicket off the final ball of the innings.
